With a 106-run victory in the second Test at Visakhapatnam on Sunday, India leveled the series against a resolute England thanks to outstanding bowling performances from Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin.
India has levelled 1-1 in the five-match series.
Ben Stokes, the captain of England, and Ben Foakes, the wicketkeeper-batter, joined the team at 194/6 to begin the second session.
England crossed the 200-run threshold in 46.1 overs thanks to a boundary from Foakes to Bumrah.
However, tragedy befell England before they could form a significant alliance. With just 11 runs in 29 balls, captain Stokes was out because to some careless running between the wickets. With the amazing performance of Shreyas Iyer, India managed to remove England’s crisis player and cut them down to 220/7.
With a first-class batting average of over 28, Tom Hartley was the next player to join Foakes, and England needed something special and encouraging from the young spinner.
Hartley, who had earlier frustrated the Indian hitters, now agitated the Indian spinners with sporadic powerful shots.
In 59.5 overs, England reached the 250-run threshold.
After just 63 balls, Foakes and Hartley had shared a half-century partnership, giving England some breathing room.
During the next anxious few overs, Foakes threw his wicket with a cheap dismissal, and Jasprit Bumrah took his second wicket after Hartley narrowly avoided a leg-before-wicket call off a delivery from Ravichandran Ashwin.
Foakes scored four boundaries and a six before being out for 36 in 69 balls. England had two wickets remaining at 275/8, 124 runs short of victory.
After being caught behind by KS Bharat, pacer Mukesh Kumar removed rookie Shoaib Bashir for an eight-ball duck. England had one wicket remaining at 281/9, 118 runs short of victory. James Anderson had joined Hartley, and now everything depended on him.
Taking the last wicket, Bumrah dismissed Hartley for 36. England lost by 106 runs after being bowled out for 292.
Ashwin (3/72) and Bumrah (3/46) were India’s best bowlers. Each of Axar Patel, Mukesh, and Kuldeep Yadav took a wicket.
England’s strong attempt to chase 399 runs in the second Test was thwarted by the skill of Indian spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav, who reduced them to 194/6 at the close of the morning session on day four at Visakhapatnam on Monday. Earlier, Zak Crawley launched a strong counterattack.
England was 194/6 at lunchtime, led by captain Ben Stokes (0*), who was undefeated.
With Zak Crawley (29*) and Rehan Ahmed (9*) undefeated, England began the fourth day of play at 67/1 and needed to chase 399 runs to win.
England continued to play aggressively, with Crawley hitting two spectacular fours from Jasprit Bumrah and Rehan taking aim at spinner Axar Patel.
But Axar quickly turned the tide for India, dismissing Rehan for 23 off 21 balls and five fours. England had a 95/2 score.
The next person on the crease was Ollie Pope.
In 22.1 overs, England scored 100 runs, thanks to a double by Crawley.
Crawley and Pope continued to punish bowlers, striking a hat-trick of boundaries off of Axar. With seven fours and a six, Crawley also reached his half-century in 83 balls.
Once again, spinner Ravichandran Ashwin caused concern in the English camp by getting Ollie caught by captain Rohit at slips for 23 and taking out Joe Root for 16 in 10 deliveries. Root took another poor shot, which Axar stopped. England finished 31 overs at 154/4.
Jonny Bairstow was next up on the crease. Crawley was punishing bowlers as usual and along with Bairstow seemed to bring England back on track and towards the 200-run mark.
However, Kuldeep Yadav changed the game, trapping Crawley leg-before wicket for 73 in 132 balls, with eight fours and a six. In the next over, Bairstow was removed for 26 in 36 balls by Bumrah with another lbw. England sunk to 194/6 at the end of the first session.
Brief Scores: India: 396 and 255 (Shubman Gill 104, Axar Patel 45, Tom Hartley 4/77) beats England: 253 and 292 (Zak Crawley 73, Tom Hartley 36, Jasprit Bumrah 3/46).
