02/05/2024
New Delhi, Feb. 5: Ravichandran Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah claimed three wickets apiece and bowled India to a series-levelling victory by 106 runs against England in the second Test on Monday.
Chasing 399 for victory, the tourists were 1-95 before they lost five wickets in the morning session to allow India to take charge of the contest.
Opener Zak Crawley struck 73, while Ben Foakes and Tom Hartley produced defiant 36s down the order but England were eventually all out for 292 in the second session on day four.
Left-arm spinner Axar Patel removed Rehan Ahmed, who did a decent job as England's nightwatchman by scoring a brisk 23.
Ashwin then rattled England by dismissing Ollie Pope and Joe Root in successive overs.
Pope made 23 before edging the off-spinner and the ball stuck to Rohit Sharma's outstretched left hand at slip.
Root, nursing a finger injury, smashed Patel for a six but gifted his wicket when he danced down the track to hit Ashwin and ended up offering a top-edge to Patel at backward point.
Crawley batted with characteristic aggression, and Jonny Bairstow (26) also looked set before they departed in successive overs before lunch.
England's hopes was effectively snuffed out when Ben Stokes was run out for 11.
Ashwin thought he had picked up a landmark 500th Test wicket when he had Tom Hartley caught by skipper Rohit Sharma off a reverse sweep that flew high in the air for a simple dismissal.
However England reviewed, and replays showed the ball had struck Hartley square on the forearm. The third umpire Paul Reiffel checked for an lbw as well, but the it remained umpire's call.
Hartley eventually was the last wicket to fall, as Bumrah produced a final jaffa to take out the off stump as the Indian side celebrated.
Bumrah's match figures of 9-91 gave him the edge for man-of-the-match honours, ahead of young opener Yashasvi Jaiswalk, who scored 209 of India's first-innings total of 396 to set up the win.
The third Test in Rajkot begins on February 15.-Agencies