NOTTINGHAM, Aug 22: India�s cornered cricketers produced a fantastic collective performance to outclass England by 203 runs in the third Test to keep the five-match series alive, here today.
Needing only a wicket on the final morning, India completed the formalities in only 2.5 overs as England were all out for 317, well short of the mammoth victory target of 521 runs.
India now trail England 1-2 but more importantly got some breathing space after a heart-breaking defeat in Edgbaston, followed by the debacle at the Lord�s.
The final wicket was taken by Ravichandran Ashwin, who dismissed James Anderson (11), caught by Ajinkya Rahane.
The heartening aspect was the kind of domination shown by the Indian team in what can easily be termed as a complete performance under Virat Kohli�s captaincy outside the subcontinent.
While openers KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan were solid if not spectacular, the new ball bowlers Ishant Sharma (2/32 and 2/70) and Mohammed Shami (1/56 and 1/78) were relentless in their attack.
Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane (81 in first innings) and Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara (72 in second innings) also put their hands up when it mattered the most.
Hardik Pandya (five-for and half-century) produced an all-round performance with wickets and runs to justify his place and make a statement to the sceptics.
The slip catching improved by leaps and bounds with Rahul taking seven catches.
SCORECARD
India 1st Innings: 329
England 1st Innings: 161
India 2nd Innings: 352-7 declared
England 2nd Innings: A Cook c Rahul b Ishant 17, K Jennings c Pant b Ishant 13, J Root c Rahul b Bumrah 13, O Pope c Kohli b Shami 16, B Stokes c Rahul b Pandya 62, J Buttler lbw Bumrah 106, J Bairstow b Bumrah 0, C Woakes c Pant b Bumrah 4, A Rashid not out 33, S Broad c Rahul b Bumrah 20, J Anderson c Rahane b Ashwin 11. Extras: (b2, lb16, nb4) 22. Total: (All out in 104.5 overs) 317. Fall of wickets: 27-1, 32-2, 62-3, 62-4, 231-5, 231-6, 241-7, 241-8, 291-9, 317-10. Bowling: Bumrah 29-8-85-5, Ishant 20-4-70-2, Ashwin 22.5-8-44-1, Shami 19-3-78-1, Pandya 14-5-22-1. � PTI
Kohli dedicates Nottingham win to Kerala flood victims
Nottingham, Aug 22: Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli today dedicated his team�s victory in the third Test against England to the victims of the devastating Kerala floods.
�We as a team want to dedicate this win to the flood victims in Kerala. This is our bit we can do as the Indian cricket team. A tough time there,� Kohli said in the post-match presentation after the 203-run win over the home team. The result kept India alive in the five-match series after heavy losses in the first two Tests in Birmingham and London respectively. � PTI
