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India vs England, 3rd Test: Ashwin, Axar Patel show powers hosts 10-wicket win, 2-1 series lead

India vs England, 3rd Test: Ashwin, Axar Patel show powers hosts 10-wicket win, 2-1 series lead. India comprehensively outplayed England in the third Test at the Narendra Modi stadium to go a step closer to the WTC final

India emerged a 10-wicket winner (BCCI)

Ahmedabad, February 25: Riding on brilliant spells of spin bowling from Axar Patel and R Ashwin, India registered a comprehensive 10-wicket win over England in the pink-ball Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday (February 25) to go 2-1 up in the four-match series.

In the end, English skipper Joe Root winning the toss and batting first meant nothing as the visitors were completely outplayed in the game. Chasing 49 for a win, India raced home with 10 wickets in the bag as Rohit Sharma (25) and Shubman Gill (15) finished the proceedings quickly.

Rohit finished it off in style by sending Root into the mid-wicket stands. The win has taken India one step closer to the final of the World Test Championship. But the star of the show was hometown boy Axar as he finished with 11 wickets in the game (six in the first innings and five in the second).

Senior partner Ashwin wasn't to be left too far behind as he picked four wickets to finish with 7 in the game. Interestingly, the off-spinner also became the second-fastest to 400 Test wickets during England's second innings when he trapped Jofra Archer plumb in front.

Root and Jack Leach's domination in the opening session on the second day was indication enough that the English batsmen would have their task cut out in the second innings. And that is exactly how it panned out as Axar picked his third consecutive fifer in Test cricket.

It all started from the first ball of England's second innings as Axar took the new ball and immediately sent back first innings' top-scorer Zak Crawley for a duck. The flow of wickets didn't stop from thereon with only Root (19) and Ben Stokes (25) looking like they were in with a chance to take England's total past the 100-run mark.

But clearly the Indian spinners had other ideas as they kept picking wickets in quick succession to ensure that the game didn't roll out of their comfort zone for a second.

Washington Sundar picked the last England wicket as he sent back James Anderson (0) to see the visitors' innings fold up for 81 -- their lowest in Test cricket against India.

Earlier, India lost seven wickets in 20.2 overs in the first session of the second day as the visitors rode on skipper Root's maiden fifer. In the end, the hosts managed 145 in their first essay -- a lead of 33 runs.

Story first published: Thursday, February 25, 2021, 20:25 [IST]
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