India had seized the advantage from England in the 3rd session of the 2nd day. Rishabh Pant went bonkers against the 2nd new ball and blasted a century. Washington Sundar and Axar Patel took India to safer shores at the end of the day’s play. India enter in to World Test Championship Finals.
India were leading by 89 runs heading into the 3rd day. Sundar and Patel stitched a 106 run partnership to deflate England further. Sundar narrowly missed out on a century when he was stranded on 96 not out. But he had ensured that India were in the driver’s seat with a lead of 160.
The Axar-Ashwin show continues:
England team had a daunting task ahead of them coming into the 2nd innings. They had to overturn a deficit of 160 to make India bat again. It wasn’t going to be easy facing the likes of Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin. And to England’s dismay, their worst nightmares come true. Ashwin struck in his very first over dismissing Zak Crawley and Jonny Bairstow in back-to-back deliveries.
It all depended on Joe Root now. But sadly he too was dismissed cheaply by Ashwin. Axar Patel got Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, and Ollie Pope in no time leaving England 91-6 at tea time.
England didn’t have any clue about India’s spin-twins:
Axar Patel and Ashwin were relentless in their line and lengths. They kept asking difficult questions of the English batsmen. Axar Patel bagged another 5-wicket haul when he dismissed Dom Bess. While Ashwin finished off the proceedings by grabbing the final two wickets, thereby picking up his 30th 5-wicket haul.
India wrapped up England for 135 and won the game by an innings and 25 runs. Patel picked up a total of 27 wickets in the 3 Tests he played. While Ashwin picked up 32 wickets to go with his century in Chennai. He was rightfully awarded the “Man of the Series”.
India Storm into the World Test Championship finals:
The Indian team with this series win (3-1) over England has gone on top of the table in the World Test Championship standings. India have a PCT of 72.2% and 520 total points in the WTC cycle.
The Virat Kohli-led Indian team has comfortably topped the WTC points table. They will be squaring off against New Zealand in the WTC final to be held on 18 June 2021. India have not just qualified for the WTC finals but have also reached the summit of the Test rankings again. We can’t wait for the WTC final to start!
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