India have clinched an ultimately comfortable victory over England in the fourth Test match at The Oval, taking a 2-1 series lead after their hosts collapsed from 2-141 to 6-147 midway through the fifth and final day.
That torpedoed England’s hopes of achieving a famous victory and shortly after tea on Monday India wrapped up a 157-run success.
England had been set 368 to win, which would have been a national record for a fourth-innings chase eclipsing the 9-362 made against Australia at Headingley two years ago.
They had built a decent platform at 0-77 overnight and with Rory Burns making 50 went to lunch still in contention at 2-131.
But ten runs later Haseeb Hameed, who had dug in to score 63, was bowled by a ball pitched into the rough by Ravi Jadeja.
A clatter of wickets followed as England collapsed. Ollie Pope was bowled off his pads by Jasprit Bumrah for two, the seamer, bowling superbly with the old ball, following up by dismissing Jonny Bairstow, yorked for nought. Moeen Ali then fell to Jadeja for another duck, the 43rd suffered by England this calendar year.
That left England fighting only to save the game. Their last hope of that went when captain Joe Root chopped on for 36 at 7-182.
It did not take India long to wrap up the innings, Umesh Yadav working through the tail to pick up 3-60 while Bumrah took 2-27 off 22 overs.
Jadeja and Shardul Thakur also claimed a pair of wickets apiece as England were dismissed for 210.
“It was unbelievable,” Virat Kohli, India’s captain, told BBC Radio. “We love being written off and I think a lot of people after [England won at] Leeds said, ‘will India be able to come back?’
“But we’ve shown time and time again that we are a top side and we have been at the top for a while now, and that’s because of the belief and the passion that we have in this group. This win is as special as [the win at] Lord’s, if not more.”
Joe Root, England captain, said: “It’s frustrating. All three results were on the table. I thought we set a platform to go on and win the game. It was a brilliant spell of bowling that bust it open for India.
“We’ve got to look at the whole game. Our catching has to improve. We’ll do some learning. The good thing is we don’t have to long to dwell on it. We’ll be right up for it again when we get to Old Trafford.”
The final Test starts at the Manchester venue on Friday.
Cari
Roar Rookie
A truly awful collapse by England, no excuses it was that bad.
Targa
Roar Rookie
Good side, but I doubt they would make that many changes. I wonder if Rahane will be encouraged to announce his retirement soon. He has been a great fighter for India but his time may have come.
Targa
Roar Rookie
If Michael Clarke and Joe Root can do well in India with the ball perhaps we will just get Williamson and Taylor to bowl a bit.
Ian
Roar Rookie
If they do prepare a raging green top for Old Trafford,it will be interesting to hear the Indians reaction to it,especially after the ridiculous wickets they served up a few months ago.Karma can be a bitch!
CricDude
Guest
A wonderful win but there are flaws too. The last couple of years, the bowlers are doing it for the team mostly. The batsmen have to up the game. I would rest Pujara, Jaddu and Siraj for the next game and drop Rahane. My 11 for the final match would be Rahul, Rohit, Mayank, Virat, Vihari, Pant, Ashwin, Shardul, Umesh, Shami, Bumrah. But chances are Kohli would bench Mayank and Ashwin.
Nudge
Roar Rookie
Folded like a pack of cards, no fight.
Paul
Roar Guru
Yeah, I think you're right, Kohli doesn't seem to be a great ponderer. I think the Indian team had a good day in spite of Virat's captaincy, not necessarily because of it. He looked bereft of ideas while the English openers piled on a century stand and it took a piece of rubbish running to cause what turned out to be the opening of the flood gates. Bumrah bowled an exceptional spell and was well supported by Yadav and Thakur, but Siraj was not up to his usual standards and some of the bowling from Jadeja was pretty ordinary. What also helped them win the game was that some of the England batting was not great either. Hameed, Root, Malan and Ali all got themselves out, while Burns, Pope and Bairstow all got terrific deliveries. After that, it was game over.
Renato CARINI
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the detail, Jeff. I'd love to see a juicy strip at old Trafford Would be riveting.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Different wicket and different conditions though. It's a combination of a number of things. Both wickets saw movement on the first days, but Headingly day 1 had a lot more lift than The Oval Day 1. India's batsmen looked more at sea at Headingly trying to cope with both (lift and lateral) and England's batsmen seemed much more at ease, particularly off the back foot; but their cause was also aided by India's bowlers often bowling too short and more often than not, too wide. I don't think India's bowlers ever really came to grips with how to bowl on that wicket. The wicket died down a bit during the rest of the match, but remained more livelier than The Oval on later days and India again struggled against the first and second new balls in their 2nd innings at Headingly. The Oval had movement on Day 1 and into Day 2 but played lower. India still struggled with the movement but coped better on the front foot. India's bowlers also bowled much tighter lines and generally fuller which was causing England some trouble also. Ball movement dropped off significantly after the first hour Day 2 (that's about the time England had further fallen to 5-60 odd and scoring at less than 2.0/over in the first hour) and that's when Pope, Bairstow, Moeen and Woakes started to cash in for the rest of the day. India's openers likewise weren't overly troubled in the last hour before stumps. Movement never really returned for the rest of the match at The Oval (there were a few that moved into day 3) and the wicket became much easier to bat on across the last 3 and 1/2 days. So I don't think you can compare the two Tests (the two sets of 1st innings) from just a pure numbers perspective in that sense. Old Trafford will be interesting because reports are that it's been pretty bouncy this season, so if there is swing and seam (as you would expect at Old Trafford), India might have some troubles again like Headingly against the new ball. Think it will probably turn later too. Will be a tricky one for the curator, high 20s next couple of days then a lot of rain the day before the Test and on Days 1 and 2 and cold on Day 3. Does the curator put it under the covers at the end of tomorrow relatively dry? If it goes under green, could be a real handful early on, especially if they can get some play on Days 1 and 2 under overcast skies.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
A great read here regarding Bumrah. https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/eng-vs-india-4th-test-jasprit-bumrah-happens-and-england-s-challenge-ends-1276592
Clear as mud
Guest
Cummins still Managed to make them jump in 2017
RAdelaide
Roar Rookie
Virat does not do pondering :laughing: He did have a dream day as captain yesterday though and always seemed to be ahead of the play. Rotated bowlers beautifully and I think the Indian bowling attack gave a masterclass to the England bowlers on how to bowl on an unhelpful surface.
Renato CARINI
Roar Rookie
Jeff Couldn’t that line of reasoning be used for the third test England forced to bat early, Ball moving around etc.? It didn’t work out that way Maybe England finished 3-53 on day two of the fourth test because it was a short session before stumps?
Renato CARINI
Roar Rookie
I think so. Not sure if this is as true as it was in the period 1970 - 2010 When India relied a lot more on spin.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I think England would more likely have scored less than 290 than more. Batting was more difficult on day 1 as England being 3 down for 53 at stumps shows. So coming in earlier on day 1 I think would have been disadvantageous. For mine, the most critical runs were India’s 2nd innings 7th wicket and 9th wicket patnerships. The 7th wicket partnership lifted India from a 213 to 313 run lead and created a defendable target. The 9th wicket partnership of 35 odd, whilst smallish, pushed not only the target into more difficult to reach territory, but crucially closed the time window for England to get the runs. Once England’s run rate started to drop either side of lunch on day 5, I think that put England in two minds as to how to play - win or draw - and ultimately I think that confusion as to game plan approach really opened the door for India’s bowlers.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Why is that though? Are Indian batsmen just far superior to facing spin than the Pakis or the Lankans?
Renato CARINI
Roar Rookie
It's in India Targa Ask Warne or Murali if there's a difference between bowling spin in India Vs sri Lanka or UAE Love you passion for NZ
Paul
Roar Guru
"I would play Jadeja at 5 as a frontline batsman". His batting's declined as the series has gone on, Arnab. He's got starts, but is not batting with a lot of purpose. I reckon India's in serious trouble if he's their best choice to bat 5.
Renato CARINI
Roar Rookie
Wasn't it 57? Still, if Thakur goes for 0, India are rolled for 134 And I'm willing to bet England reply with a lot more than 290 In other words, a repeat of the third test. Thakur's effort was just as valuable, As Sharma's 127
RAdelaide
Roar Rookie
Flat pitch. Hot day. That spell from Bumrah was something else. Also, Thakur with his crucial runs and wickets (got Root too! ) was brilliant. India have issues. Kohli/Rahane/Pant not firing big, they were carrying Siraj (should have played Ashwin instead) but still keep finding enough runs and wickets. The hallmark of a good team is when they win even when they are not at their best, I think India is a very good team at the moment.