India opens winning account in Tests; defeats England by 203 runs

Nottingham: India finally registered its first victory in ongoing five-Test series against England defeating the hosts by 203 runs at the Trent Bridge Cricket ground here on Wednesday.

In their pursuit of 521 runs for victory, England resumed their innings at 311/9 and lasted a little over two overs before losing the final wicket of James Anderson (11) to off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. England's innings closed at 317.

Virat Kohli was named man of the match for accumulating 200 runs in two innings (97 and 103). India now trail the five-match rubber 1-2 as they proceed to Hampshire for the fourth Test, starting August 30.

The third Test had been a one-sided affair ever since England was wrapped up for mere 161 runs in the first inning in reply to India's 329 runs. Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes, however, showed some resistance in the fourth inning when they put together a 169-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Everyone still knew, India just needed one wicket to script an English batting collapse. Same thing happened when Buttler tried to leave an in-swinging delivery of Jasprit Bumrah only to be judged LBW.

Bumrah was on a roll in the fourth inning as he completed his five-for conceding 85 runs in 29 overs. Ishant Sharma had dismissed both the openers early in the inning while Mohammed Shami, Hardik Pandya and R Ashwin made their contributions by picking up a wicket each.

Coming in to chase a gigantic target of 521 runs in slightly more than two days, England got off to a bad start as Ishant Sharma dismissed both the openers, Keaton Jennings (13 off 31) and Alastair Cook (17 off 39), for 32 runs within 12 overs. Skipper Joe Root (13 off 40) was also tricked by Bumrah through an incoming delivery which he nicked to Lokesh Rahul at second slip.

England was looking in trouble at 62/3 and the situation worsened with Ollie Pope (16 off 39) also departed leaving his side in great distress at 62/4. Then came the warriors, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes, who at least managed to keep India away from victory for about 20 more hours.

Buttler pulled out his career-best inning of 106 runs off 176 balls with 21 boundaries. He was well accompanied by Ben Stokes who added 62 runs off 187 balls with 6 fours. Jonny Bairstow, who was not 100 per cent fit, also followed Buttler to the pavilion scoring a golden duck.

Chris Woakes, who amazed all by scoring his maiden hundred at Lord’s against India, was dismissed off a brilliant bouncer by Bumrah. He could only add 4 runs off 3 balls. Adil Rashid was also taken by Bumrah but it turned out to be a no-ball (over-stepping). Eventually, Rashid remained unbeaten at 33 runs off 64 balls.

Stuart Broad also added 21 runs off 29 balls with 3 fours, while James Anderson, who was the last wicket to fall, scored 11 runs off 24 balls. Anderson’s satay at the crease was full of fearsome bouncers by Indian pacers.

Also Read: Asiad 2048: Rahi Sarnobat clinches gold in 25m pistol event

Eventually, it was a comprehensive victory for India after being outplayed in the previous encounter at the Lord’s.

Earlier after being put in to bat first, Virat Kohli (97 off 152) and Ajinkya Rahane (81 off 131) played instrumental role in leading India to 329 in the first inning. James Anderson (3/64), Stuart Broad (3/72) and Chris Woakes (3/75) bagged three wickets each while Adil Rashid claimed the only wicket of Kohli for 54 runs.

England was looking initially as they had scored 54 runs for no loss, but Hardik Pandya (5/28) ripped apart their batting line-up claiming his first five-for in Test Cricket. Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma had also picked up two wickets each while Mohammed Shami picked up one scalp.

Already having a healthy lead of 168 runs, India started off its second inning on a positive note with the openers Lokesh Rahul (36 off 33) and Shikhar Dhawan (44 off 63) putting together 60 runs in just 11.2 overs.

Cheteshwar Pujara also played a gritty inning of 72 runs off 208 balls while captain Kohli rectified his mistake of the first inning and completed his 23^rd century (second on the tour). He scored 103 runs off 197 balls with 10 boundaries to propel India to 352/7d. Hardik Pandya also scored a run-a-ball half-century adding 52 runs off 52 balls with seven fours and a six.

Adil Rashid picked up three wickets while Ben Stokes took two and Anderson and Woakes managed one scalp each.

These efforts gave England an uphill task of surviving for two days or chasing down a target as big as 521 runs. Perhaps, nothing was possible in English conditions and England lost its first match of the Test series.

The next match will begin after eight days on August 30 at Southampton.