Ruthless England decimate India

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By Rob Barnett

 

England stunningly struck nine times after tea on day three to thrash India by an innings and 54 runs, putting the hosts 2-1 up in the Investec Series with a game to go.

 

Moeen Ali snared four of the wickets and added a run-out as Alastair Cook’s side retained the Pataudi Trophy ahead of next week’s finale at the Kia Oval.

 

Victory at Emirates Old Trafford follows England’s first Test win in almost a year, recorded at the Ageas Bowl, and represents a remarkable turnaround in fortunes in this series.

 

There was little sign of what was to come when the tourists took tea on 33 for the loss of just Murali Vijay.

 

However, two scalps in two balls shortly after the interval started the fall of five wickets for 13 runs. India were eventually dismissed for 161, nine more than they managed in the first innings.

 

The win came at 6.16pm with play able to continue until 7pm and the option of an extra half-hour available. It is as well for England that they completed the job today given the remnants of Hurricane Bertha are set to make tomorrow and possibly Monday extremely wet in Manchester.

Moeen Ali makes Mahendra Singh Dhoni his fourth victim before adding the run-out of Bhuvneshwar Kumar as India were skittled for 161 The weather is no longer a concern for the hosts but the fitness of Stuart Broad is. He suffered a fractured nose towards the end of England’s innings by top-edging a Varun Aaron ball between the peak and grille of his helmet. He retired hurt and was unable to retake the field, instead going for an x-ray. Broad had the consolation of being man of the match for his six first-innings wickets.

 

Once England were dismissed for 367, 215 ahead, Chris Woakes made the initial breakthrough by having Vijay lbw. But the real drama came after tea.

 

Gautam Gambhir gloved a James Anderson bouncer behind and Moeen immediately trapped Cheteshwar Pujara in front.

 

In the spinner’s following over Ajinkya Rahane was caught and bowled and, next up, Virat Kohli’s poor series continued as he edged the economical Anderson to second slip.

 

It was three wickets in as many overs when Ravindra Jadeja nicked Moeen to slip, leaving India 66 for six.

 

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Ravichandran Ashwin rallied with a stand of 39 in 45 balls until Gary Ballance’s athletic catch to his right at midwicket sent Dhoni packing for 27.

 

Moeen could not repeat his Southampton five-for, making do with figures of 4-39, but he did run Bhuvneshwar Kumar out via a strong throw from point to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

Jos Buttler cuts loose during his innnings of 70, a second fifty in as many Test knocks for the newly-capped wicketkeeper-batsman Jordan, who would have removed Bhuvneshwar but for overstepping, wrapped up proceedings in two deliveries. Aaron gloved a bumper behind and Pankaj Singh was bowled off his pads by a searing yorker, leaving Ashwin stranded on 46.

 

The magnitude of England’s first-innings advantage owed much to a stand of 134 between Joe Root and Buttler that was completed in the morning session.

 

With the hosts resuming on 237 for six, Root soon raised his fifth fifty in as many Tests versus India.

 

Facing the second new ball, Buttler was spilled at gully by Kohli on 34 and, having shared the hundred partnership, would have been run out for 44 but for gloveman Dhoni’s fumble.

 

Buttler made it fifties in each of his Test innings shortly before Pankaj earned his first format scalp in his second game when Root was caught behind down leg for 77.

 

Pankaj had another shortly before lunch by deceiving Buttler, on 70, with a slower ball, resulting in a simple catch at mid-off.

 

Broad’s injury occurred in the first over of the afternoon session, just after he had twice pulled the seamer for six, and the innings was over when Anderson was pinned in front by Jadeja.

 

Match scorecard / Live ball-by-ball commentary

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Post-Match Reaction

England captain Alastair Cook said: “You don’t often get nine wickets in a session and the noise of the crowd when we got the last few wickets there was a great buzz. The support we have had for three days has been fantastic. We like playing here. We didn’t think we would get it done today.

“Jimmy (Anderson) has got the lergy as well. It was a great effort from Jimmy to get off his bed to bowl nine overs. Mo (Moeen Ali) was fantastic and everything went to plan. The work he is doing is justifying. I have never seen a guy work so hard and make such a big improvement in such a short space of time. He has really learnt how to bowl in international cricket.” 

Cook, who confirmed man-of-the-match Stuart Broad has a suspected broken nose from the blow he took while batting, added: “He has got a bit of a sore nose. Fingers crossed there is no cheek fractures. He has a nasty blow, but hopefully he will be alright. We are still waiting for a lot of the results to come through. We wish him well and hopefully it hasn’t ruined his good looks.”

On Anderson and Broad’s new-ball partnership, Cook said: A brilliant pairing. I’m very lucky to be able to call on them. They are brilliant bowlers. In all conditions they have learnt how to bowl. They have helped the younger guys too. Hopefully they can do it for a few more years.” 

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said: “It was the first innings that we were not up to the mark, in the batting department. We have to improve before the next Test. Our batting has not really clicked, we have had to rely on the bowlers. Seven, eight, nine, 10 and 11 have actually got runs for us. I feel it is very important to get going ourselves and the batting department will have to improve.” 

Evening Session

 

6.16pm – ENGLAND WIN BY AN INNINGS AND 54 RUNS TO GO 2-1 UP IN THE SERIES!! WICKET! Pankaj b Jordan 0; Ind 161 all out, Ashwin 46 – A fired-up Jordan cleans up Pankaj Singh first ball with a yorker that deflects off the right-hander’s pads on to the stumps. England have stunningly taken nine wickets since tea to win inside three days. They have retained the Pataudi Trophy and will win the series if they avoid defeat at the Kia Oval.

 

6.14pm – WICKET! Aaron c Buttler b Jordan 9; 161/9 – After Ashwin sweetly cover-drives for four earlier in the over, Jordan directs a short ball at Aaron who gloves behind.

 

6.09pm – Ashwin also shows some fight, cutting Moeen for four and then smiting him over mid-on for the first six of the innings. That brings up India’s 150 but they are still 62 behind.

 

6.01pm – Varun Aaron cuts and drives Jordan for two fours in an over. England have at least until 7pm to wrap this up and even then could claim an extra half hour.

 

5.50pm – WICKET! Bhuvneshwar run out 9; Ind 132/8 – Bhuvneshwar plays Jordan in front of point, takes one run and comes back for another but is short of his ground as Moeen chases and relays to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

 

5.45pm – Jordan thinks he has Bhuvneshwar, who has just cut him for four, held by Bell at second slip but it’s a no-ball. England still need three more strikes to win.

 

5.34pm – Ashwin pulls and punches Jordan, who has replaced Woakes, for fours in still decent batting conditions thanks partly to the glorious sunshine. Bhuvneshwar Kumar then sweetly cover-drives Moeen to the rope.

 

5.25pm – WICKET! Dhoni c Ballance b Moeen 27; Ind 105/7 – Gary Ballance holds a stunning catch, diving to his right at midwicket, to break a stand of 39 in 45 balls. England need three wickets for victory.

5.17pm – Dhoni again scores two fours in a Woakes over, this time via a straight drive and a pull, shortly before India reach 100. They are still 115 in arrears.

 

5.06pm – Following a Moeen maiden to Ravichandran Ashwin, Mahendra Singh Dhoni cuts Woakes for two consecutive fours to put up some India resistance.

4.52pm – WICKET! Jadeja c Jordan b Moeen 4; Ind 66/6 – Ravindra Jadeja announces himself by advancing to Anderson and powerfully pulling for four. But in the next over he edges Moeen to slip. The spinner has taken three wickets for as many runs in 16 balls.

4.46pm – WICKET! Kohli c Bell b Anderson 7; Ind 61/5 – England are on fire! Anderson gets Kohli to edge low to second slip where Ian Bell holds on.

 

4.40pm – WICKET! Rahane c & b Moeen 1; Ind 61/4 – In the over after Virat Kohli pulls Anderson for four and wafts outside off, Ajinkya Rahane inside-edges a low return catch to Moeen.

4.29pm – WICKET! Pujara lbw Moeen 17; Ind 53/3 – England have two scalps in two balls as the spinner traps in Pujara in front. The hosts are scenting victory, possibly today.

 

4.26pm – WICKET! Gambhir c Buttler b Anderson 18; Ind 53/2 – Moeen Ali replaces Woakes and is swept for four by Gautam Gambhir. Pujara then cuts Anderson to the boundary, moving India past 50. Anderson responds with a bouncer to Gambhir that the left-hander faintly gloves behind.

 

4.14pm – Pujara drives a Jordan full-toss to the cover rope. In the next over he wafts loosely outside off stump at Anderson.

4.02pm – Chris Jordan starts what could be a three-hour final session bowling from the Pavilion End. At the same time Stuart Broad, with his nose bandaged, leaves the ground to go for an x-ray. He gets warm applause as he walks between two stands. James Anderson partners Jordan, starting with a maiden to Cheteshwar Pujara.

 

Afternoon Session

 

India 2nd Innings

 

3.40pm – TEA! Ind 33/1; Gambhir 12, Pujara 3 – Moeen Ali bowls the last over of the session and is deposited to the point boundary by Gambhir. India are 182 behind.

3.22pm – WICKET! Vijay lbw Woakes 18; Ind 26/1 – Vijay takes Jordan for two fours in an over, the first an aerial thick edge wide of the slips and the second a beautiful off drive. But in the next he falls to Woakes with the ball striking him in front of middle and leg.

 

3.04pm – Jordan takes over from Woakes at the Pavilion End. Broad is still off the field. Woakes switches ends, taking over from Anderson whose last two overs were maidens. Vijay cuts Woakes aerially just past Joe Root at point. It can’t quite be considered a chance.

2.51pm – Woakes starts with two straight maidens as he and Anderson put Gautam Gambhir and Murali Vijay under pressure. Woakes finally concedes when Gambhir edges him aerially between the slips and gully for four.

 

2.35pm – James Anderson opens the bowling from the Brian Statham End. Stuart Broad is not on the field, having retired hurt after taking that horrible blow to the face. Liam Livingstone is the substitute fielder. Chris Woakes shares the new ball with Anderson.

 

England 1st Innings

 

4.22pm – WICKET & END OF INNINGS! ENGLAND 367 ALL OUT! Anderson lbw Ashwin 9; Woakes 26 – It’s spin at both ends as Ravichandran Ashwin traps Anderson in front of leg stump. Broad does not continue his innings so the hosts are all out with a first-innings advantage of 215.

 

2.17pm – Spinner Ravindra Jadeja replaces Aaron. Anderson delights his home crowd further by reverse-sweeping for two.

 

2.09pm – Woakes is taking the majority of the strike and improvises to guide Aaron fine on the off side for four just before Anderson takes a single off Pankaj to move the lead to 200. Later in the over Anderson gets in on the act by powerfully pulling for four.

 

1.55pm – Chris Woakes and James Anderson attempt aggressive shots against Pankaj Singh without connecting. England are clearly aiming to get a move on. After a tight Aaron over, Woakes glances Pankaj for four to fine-leg.

1.48pm – BROAD RETIRED HURT 12; Eng 338/8 – Varun Aaron starts the day’s second session bowling from the Brian Statham End and Stuart Broad pulls him for two consecutive sixes behind square before attempting the shot again and top-edging into the gap between helmet peak and grille. It’s a gruesome blow that draws blood, forcing Broad off. He manages a smile as he walks off alongside a member of the England backroom staff.

 

Morning Session

1.01pm – LUNCH! Eng 325/8; Woakes 6, Broad 0 – Stuart Broad plays out the last two balls of a wicket-maiden before the players head off for the interval. England lead by an imposing 173 on first innings.

12.57pm – WICKET! Buttler c Pujara b Pankaj 70; Eng 325/8 – Buttler cuts a tiring Aaron for his 10th four and Woakes guides the same bowler to third man for his first. The eighth-wicket pair are showing no let-up despite lunch approaching. But Pankaj’s slower ball then deceives Buttler, who is comfortably caught at mid-off.

 

12.44pm – Buttler suggests he is going to step on the accelerator by cover-driving Aaron for two fours, the first aerial but safe. Buttler now has Chris Woakes for company.

12.35pm – WICKET! Root c Dhoni b Pankaj 77; Eng 304/7 – Root clips Aaron through midwicket for his first boundary of the day. He gets a second later in the over, taking England past 300. Root is then caught behind down leg off Pankaj, who has replaced Bhuvneshwar and finally has a first Test scalp. It comes in a wicket-maiden that breaks an excellent stand of 134.

12.24pm – FIFTY! Buttler (108b 6×4 0x6) – Buttler punches Bhuvneshwar off the back foot and through the covers for four, heralding his second Test half-century. Later in the over Buttler shoulders arms and is almost lbw, but the ball hit him just outside off stump. He then cuts for four more.

12.17pm – CHANCE! Buttler survives again. Having played Bhuvneshwar to deep backward square-leg, he comes back for a second run and would have been run out had wicketkeeper Dhoni taken a good throw cleanly. Buttler moves to 45 and England lead by 133.

 

12.01pm – Bhuvneshwar gets one to keep low just outside Root’s off stump, but India’s premier fit paceman is not bowling at full pace.

11.52pm – HUNDRED PARTNERSHIP! Root drives Bhuvneshwar past mid-off for an all-run four, which brings up a crucial century stand between the 23-year-olds.

 

11.44am – CHANCE! Buttler, on 34, edges Bhuvneshwar to gully where Virat Kohli cannot grasp a difficult left-handed chance. How much will India regret that? Buttler suggests it could be significantly by pulling Aaron for four.

 

11.34am – Dhoni immediately requests the new ball and gives it to Bhuvneshwar at the Pavilion End. Buttler responds by twice consecutively cover-driving for the first fours of the day. The former takes England’s lead to three figures. Pankaj partners Bhuvneshwar, replacing Jadeja.

 

11.28am – Aaron and Jadeja string three maidens together during an impasse before the fresh cherry is likely taken.

 

11.18am – Dhoni isn’t saving his premier seamers for the new ball after all; Aaron replaces the hapless Pankaj. Jadeja continues and beats Buttler’s expansive drive, just as he did Root’s a little earlier.

11.12am – Pankaj beats Jos Buttler a couple of times as the unlucky seamer strives for his first Test wicket. It looks like Mahendra Singh Dhoni is saving Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Varun Aaron for the new ball in five overs.

11.05am – FIFTY! Root (103b 5×4 0x6) Ravindra Jadeja opens the bowling with a tight over from the Brian Statham End. He is partnered by Pankaj Singh, whom Joe Root steers to fine-leg for three to reach a half-century. The fielder does well to save a four, diving on one of yesterday’s troublesome areas.

 

Pre-Play News

 

11am – The players and umpires are out in the middle as the sun shines brightly to greet the start of day three.

 

10.50am – While waiting for the action to start, why not read yesterday’s report and our exclusive quotes from Ian Bell? There is a video of Bell being interviewed.

10.40am – The players are warming up on the outfield, England having started with a game of touch rugby and now going through fielding drills. There is towelling over the bowler’s take-off area at the Brian Statham End to make sure it is dry enough after yesterday’s downpour.

10.30am – Good morning from Emirates Old Trafford where there is a brisk wind blowing and grey cloud cover, but we are set to start on time at 11am. The two areas by the boundary at the Brian Statham End, which were too damp for a resumption yesterday, look to have dried out.

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