Top-ranked India surpassed the 103-run target in the final session of the fourth day in Mohali with recalled opener Parthiv Patel (67 not out) hitting the winning runs.
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The only wicket that would have seriously bothered them was that of Joe Root.
Stokes accounted for both batsmen to end the Indian innings.
After conceding a 134-run first-innings advantage, England had their backs firmly against the wall and Monday’s top-order collapse left them with an impossible task to save the game.
In the second innings, scoreboard pressure played its part, as England batsmen struggled to put up a challenge. India go 2-0 up in the series.
England off-spinner Moeen Ali too did not take a wicket. The batsman top-edged it and Root grabbed the catch at short fine.
Indian captain Virat Kohli today (November 29) heaped praise on England’s young opener Haseeb Hameed and predicted he would be a “future star” in all forms of the game. Parthiv followed his plucky 42 from the first innings with his 5th half-century in Tests and made a serious case in point to be considered for the next Test.
It’s time for tea.
“None of the pitches have been turners”, said Kohli after the comprehensive win that gave India 2-0 lead in the five-match series. India’s No. 3 Cheteshwar Pujara is at the eighth position with 760 rating points. But the run-out of James Anderson [5] curtailed the effort and set up an easy India run chase, despite a wicket each for Woakes and Adil Rashid.
Joe Root was unbeaten on 36 at the close with nightwatchman Gareth Batty on nought and the touring side face an uphill battle to save the match at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium.
Alastair Cook was frank in his assessment of England’s defeat to India, admitting that the tourists misread the pitch in Mohali and got their selection wrong.
“It’s been a frustrating four days”.
Buttler’s approach would be his undoing when he again came down the track, but picked out Jadeja in the deep, falling for 18 and bringing Hameed to the crease, finally. He tried to whack Jayant Yadav over the long-on but failed as Jadeja takes a neat catch near the boundary rope.
Ravindra Jadeja: India could not have though of this win without Ravindra Jadeja.
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The spin trio of Ashwin (4), Jadeja (4) and Jayant (4) also shared 12 wickets amongst themselves. India now lead the series 2-0.
