England win series as India wilt

MOEEN ALI finally broke India’s resistance as England sealed the Specsavers series with a 60-run win after a titanic struggle in Southampton.

The world’s number one team pushed England into the penultimate evening of the fourth Test, thanks to a century fourth-wicket stand between Virat Kohli (58) and Ajinkya Rahane (51).

India’s target, one they have exceeded just once in their history to win outside Asia, was 245 after England were bowled out for 271 in their second innings.

But India looked beaten when they were reduced to 22-3 on an uneven pitch.

Captain Virat Kohli could have been given out lbw to off-spinner Moeen Ali on nine, but survived to share a painstaking stand of 101 with Ajinkya Rahane.

England could muster only one wicket in the afternoon, but it was the one they craved above all others.

The session was an exposition of cricketing skills as bat countered ball, despite the hazards of spin, occasional variable bounce and footmarks for Moeen and Adil Rashid, and reverse-swing for Anderson.

Kohli dealt with the lot, reaching his 114-ball 50 with just his third boundary, until Moeen got one in the perfect place to spin, bounce and take the glove for a catch at short-leg.

Even after Kohli was caught, Rahane dragged the runs required down below 100.

However, Rahane and Rishabh Pant fell in successive Moeen overs, beginning a demise that saw India lose four wickets for 13 runs and eventually be dismissed for 184.

Man of the match Moeen, on his recall to the side, ended with 4-71 to complete match analysis of 9-134 to go with 40 runs in England’s first innings.

Victory extends a run which has seen England lose only one home series since 2012.

They take a 3-1 lead to the fifth and final Test, which begins on Friday at The Oval.