Manchester, Aug 9:
A listless India capitulated to a humiliating innings and 54 runs defeat in the fourth cricket Test against England with a horrendous batting display that allowed the hosts to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
It was an abject surrender by the Indian batsmen as they were skittled out for a paltry 161 in 43 overs after conceding a 215-run lead to England, who wrapped the match within three days.
It was again off-spinner Moeen Ali (4-39), who plotted India’s downfall with the visitors losing nine wickets in the final session of play of the third day’s play.
Moeen, with 19 wickets in the series so far, is just two wickets behind James Anderson (21), who is the leading wicket-taker of the series so far.
Cheteshwar Pujara (17), Ajinkya Rahane (1), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (27) and Ravindra Jadeja (4) were Moeen’s victims as the off-spinner made the batsmen dance to his tunes.
Dhoni and Ravichandran Ashwin (48 not out) though did try to spill over the game to the fourth day after stitching a 39-run seventh-wicket partnership but the duo could only delay the inevitable.
Moeen apart, the bowlers came up with another fine display even in the absence of Stuart Broad, who was out injured after getting hit on his nose while batting in the England innings.
Anderson and Chris Jordan picked up two wickets each as Chris Woakes, who shared the new ball with Anderson, started the wickettaking after sending Murali Vijay (18) trapped LBW before the tea break.
The hosts had managed to score 367 in their only innings, which came in reply to India’s first innings score of 152 as nearly two session so play was lost due to rain interruptions on Friday.
After the 266-run defeat in Southampton, the visitors have failed to pick up the pieces and now look like a side in complete trouble. Their only win coming at Lord’s in the second game.
The two teams will now travel to London for the final match at the Oval starting August 15 with the visitors only having a chance to level the series. (PTI)
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