Yesterday, Zak Crawley gave England a glimmer of hope with the bat. Today, it was Joe Root’s turn to offer England hope. Joe’s 5 wickets helped to put India into all sorts of trouble during their first innings on the second day. Yet, India still won the third Test inside two days and now lead the series 2-1.
At the start of day two, the Sharma-Rehane partnership resumed with India on 99-3. Together they took the total to 114 before Rahane was out LBW off Jack Leach, giving the bowler his fourth wicket of the innings.
At the other end Joe set about the batters. He took all the remaining Indian wickets and claimed his first 5 wicket haul in first-class and Test cricket.
Joe’s 5-8 came off just 6.2 overs and he became the first England captain to take 5 wickets in a Test match since Bob Willis in 1983.
Of more importance to Joe, India had collapsed to 145 all out.
Trailing India by just 33 runs, England were back in the Test.
Facing the Indian spinners bowling on a helpful surface was nevertheless going to be a challenge for the England batters.
England lost Zak Crawley and Bairstow without a run scored. Soon they were 19-3. For a brief spell hopes were raised when Joe (19) and Ben Stokes (25) shared a partnership of 31. With two collapses already in this Test a third was sure to follow. And, as night follows day, England collapsed to 81 all.
Requiring just 41, India coasted to a second straight victory in the series. With this loss, England cannot qualify for the World Test Championship final.
(PhoenixMedia Image Created from a Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)