Rahul and Pant’s fighting knocks go in vain for India
ANDERSON’S RECORD WICKET SEALS 118-RUN WIN FOR ENGLAND
Opener K.L. Rahul and Rishabh Pant’s stunning fightback went in vain as England seamer James Anderson’s record wicket sealed an 118-run win for the hosts in the final day of the fifth and final Test against India at the Oval yesterday.
India, who were 298-5 — needing 166 more runs for victory at team, lost five wickets and were all out in the second mandatory over to help England win the series 4-1. Veteran pacer Anderson dismissed last man Mohammad Shami to claim his 564th wicket and surpass Australian great Glenn McGrath as the highest pacer wicket-taker in Test history.
Rahul, whose struggle for runs has undermined India throughout the series, played calmly to take his overnight 46 to 142 by the midafternoon break before being dismissed by a beauty by Adil Rashid, whose delivery pitched on the footmarks outside the leg-stump and dislodged Rahul’s off stump.
India’s 20-year-old Pant had joined Rahul before lunch, and played superbly to reach a maiden Test century from 117 balls. The left-hander, who scored his first run off a six, also completed his fist century with a six before Rashid again foxed him with a googly to be caught at long-off by Moeen Ali.
Their partnership of 204 runs brought India close to the victory target and a tantalising final twist in a compelling series.
India began the day on a precarious 58-3 chasing an improbable victory target of 464.
Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane survived an early four-over burst from Anderson, who was hunting the one wicket required to move ahead of McGrath.
The 26-year-old Rahul brought up his first 50 of the series when he turned Anderson off his legs for a boundary in the first over of the day, and he grew in confidence from there on. On a subdued and murky day after the excitement of England opener Alastair Cook’s farewell Test century on Monday, Rahul looked in complete control, although Sam Curran did beat his outside edge on occasions before lunch.
His partnership with Rahane looked secure and was worth 118 when Moeen Ali made the breakthrough to have Rahane caught at midwicket for 37 after mistiming a sweep shot.
When Ben Stokes lured Hanuma Vihari into edging behind for a duck in the next over it looked bleak for India.
But Rahul went back on the attack to reach three figures with a flurry of boundaries off Stokes, accelerating from 78 to three figures in the space of nine balls, including a six thrashed over deep extra cover.
His fifth Test century, taken off 118 deliveries, came up when he flat-batted a wide Stokes delivery for four — drawing a warm reception from the sparse Oval crowd.
Pant outscored his partner in the afternoon with some audacious shots. He reached his maiden Test half-century in 78 balls and later struck Stokes for three boundaries in an over as he sniffed a century. With the pitch offering spin, England skipper Joe Root bowled himself as he sought a breakthrough in the afternoon but chances were few and far between.