Staff Reporter.
| Third Test, Ahmedabad (day two) |
| England 112 (Crawley 53; Axar 6-38) & 81 (Axar 5-32, Ashwin 4-48) |
| India 145 (Rohit 66, Root 5-8, Leach 4-54) & 49-0 |
| India won by 10 wickets |
England succumbed to a 10-wicket defeat against India inside two days of an astonishing third Test in Ahmedabad.
England began the day with a thrilling fightback, turning India’s overnight 99-3 into 145 all out.
But, faced with a first-innings deficit of 33, England were bowled out for 81 as India’s spinners ran riot once again.
In a frenzied start to their second innings, England lost Zak Crawley and Jonny Bairstow within three balls – both bowled by Axar Patel.
Ben Stokes and Joe Root briefly calmed the raucous atmosphere but their dismissals in consecutive overs sparked a sorry procession to England’s lowest Test total in India.
Spinners were responsible for every wicket to fall on the day – and 28 of the 30 in the match – Joe Root taking 5-8 in the first session, Axar 5-32 and Ravichandran Ashwin 4-48, including his 400th Test scalp.
India cruised to their target of 49 inside eight overs, an incredible game wrapped up before the floodlit conditions of a day-night Test could have an impact.
Victory gave India, who lost the first Test, an unassailable 2-1 lead in the series with one match to play and ended England’s hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship final this summer.