India rout England by 434 runs to lead Test series 2-1

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February 18, 2024
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RAJKOT (Agencies): Yashasvi Jaiswal hit an unbeaten double century to help India to its biggest-ever win Sunday, crushing England by 434 runs in the third Test to take a 2-1 lead in the series. Chasing 557 for victory, England’s batting fell like a pack of cards with the loss of eight wickets in the final session to be dismissed for 122 on day four in Rajkot. “In Test cricket… when you’re playing well you have to make it big,” Jaiswal told broadcasters after the stunning win. “Test cricket is hard, but I thought that when I’m in there, I need to give my 100 percent,” he said. Ravindra Jadeja got Mark Wood out for 33 as the final wicket — and his fifth — and he kissed the pitch as India registered their greatest win in terms of runs. England lost their openers, including first-innings centurion Ben Duckett run out on four, before tea and Jadeja then rattled the middle-order with his left-arm spin. Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root extended their poor run in the five-match series, out for four and seven respectively. Skipper Ben Stokes attempted to resist the Indian bowling but fell lbw to left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav for 15 in his 100th Test. “We’re 2-1 down in the series but still have two games left,” Stokes said. “We leave this game behind ––– know we’ve got to win the next two to win the series.”

The left-handed Jaiswal stood out with his 214 off 236 balls to flay the opposition attack before India declared their second innings on 430-4. The opener returned to bat in the morning session after he retired hurt on 104 late on day three due to back pain. “Today when I came, I wanted to make sure that I take the game forward and bat till the end,” Jaiswal said. He raised his second double ton in consecutive matches with a single off Root and jumped for joy. Jaiswal hit a record-equalling 12 sixes in his knock, which included three straight hits over the fence off James Anderson — a first for the veteran quick who has 696 wickets in 185 Tests. Jaiswal now stands level with former Pakistan great Wasim Akram, who also hit 12 sixes in an innings against Zimbabwe in 1996. He put on marathon stands that included an unbeaten 172-run partnership with debutant Sarfaraz Khan, who made 68 for his second half-century of the match.

The 22-year-old Jaiswal, who hit a match-winning 209 in the second Test, remains the leading batsman in the series with 545 runs. Indian bowlers set up victory after they bowled England out for 319 in the first innings, after the tourists’ batting collapsed from 299-5 despite the absence of star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Saturday. Ashwin, who left the Test midway on day two due to a family emergency hours after taking his 500th Test wicket, returned to the field and got his 501st wicket on the fourth day. Off-spinner Ashwin, 37, became only the ninth bowler in Test history and the second Indian after fellow spinner Anil Kumble (619) to reach 500 wickets. Skipper Rohit Sharma’s 131 and 112 by Jadeja steered India to 445 in the first innings after they elected to bat. England won the opener by 28 runs but India bounced back in the second match. The fourth Test starts on Friday in Ranchi.

SCOREBOARD

INDIA 1ST INNINGS 445

ENGLAND 1ST INNINGS 319

INDIA 2ND INNINGS 430-4 dec

ENGLAND 2ND INNINGS (target 557 runs)

Zak Crawley lbw b Bumrah 11

Ben Duckett run out 4

Ollie Pope c Sharma b Jadeja 3

Joe Root lbw b Jadeja 7

Jonny Bairstow lbw b Jadeja 4

Ben Stokes lbw b Kuldeep 15

Ben Foakes c Jurel b Jadeja 16