MOHALI – India took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series by beating England by eight wickets in the third Test in Mohali on Tuesday.
Chasing 103 for a win, India chased down the target with only two wickets down in 20.2 overs. Parthiv Patel remained unbeaten on 67, his fifth Test half-century.
Earlier, England were bowled out for 236 in their second innings with Joe Root leading the way with a defiant 78. Haseeb Hameed remained unbeaten on 59.
Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja and Jayant Yadav took two wickets each while R Ashwin picked up three wickets in the second innings.
Parthiv was in a mood to display his ‘T20 skills’ as he took on the pacers and spinners alike with minimum fuss. The 50 came off 39 balls with eight boundaries and a six. His prowess at the top of the order will give Kohli and coach Anil Kumble another option for opening slot.
Earlier, credit should be given to young Haseeb Hameed for his gritty unbeaten 59 off 156 balls coming in at No 8 due to a finger injury that helped England cross 200-run mark. He hit six fours and a six off Ashwin to complete his second Test half-century. It was because of the teenager that India had to chase a 100 plus target.
It was a match where England were outbatted and outbowled by an Indian side that has been plagued by injuries, the Indian Express reported.
Having polished off the top-order save Joe Root, the question on fourth day was not how but when will India finish the match.
The only wicket that would have seriously bothered them was that of Joe Root. But post Root, Hameed did put up a fight but it was always for a losing cause.
Root, who was standing between India and victory, was dismissed for 78 by Jadeja (2/39 in 23 overs), who got one to turn away sharply as the edge was taken by an alert Ajinkya Rahane, who reacted quickly to stretch his right hand.
Root played 179 balls hitting six fours in the process. He got an able ally in young Hameed as the duo added 45 runs in 119 balls for the seventh wicket stand. It was this pair that erased the 134 run deficit.
Once Jadeja removed the gutsy Root minutes before lunch, the writing was there on the wall.
But Hameed delayed the inevitable and showed that he is one for the future with correct technique and a temperament to match with it.
