IND vs ENG: 3rd Test – Axar, Ashwin wrap up pink-ball affair in 2 days
Did anyone feel this Test match lasted shorter than an ODI match? We certainly felt so. India spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel’s brilliance guided India to a comprehensive 10-wicket win over England in the 3rd Test at Ahmedabad on Thursday (February 25). Set a target of 49, India reached home in 7.4 overs with openers Rohit Sharma (25*) and Shubman Gill (15*) sharing an unbeaten 49-run stand. The day-night pink-ball Test lasted all of two days.
On Day 1, England captain Joe Root won the toss and elected to bat on what looked like a decent batting wicket. However, the Indian spin bowling unit soon got into the act, with Axar bagging a six-wicket haul and Ashwin complementing with a three-for. Ishant Sharma, who was playing his 100th Test, finished with a solitary scalp to his name. As a result, England were restricted to a meagre 112 in their first innings that lasted just 48.4 overs. Zak Crawley (53) was the only half-centurion for the visitors.
Root-Leach spin cobweb
India’s response to England’s 1st-innings total wasn’t impressive either. Jack Leach 4/54 spearheaded England’s bowling attack, dismantling India’s top order. The England skipper then brought himself on and ran away with a miserly five-for to his name – a career-best of 5/8. India folded for just 145 with a lead of 33 runs. Barring Rohit Sharma (66), none of the Indian batsmen could register big scores.
England’s second innings was an even bigger disaster, as they were bundled out for just 81 runs. Once again, Axar led from the front, striking on the first ball of the innings. He then picked up another wicket in the next two balls to leave England reeling at 0/2. Captain Virat Kohli didn’t even introduce his pacers into the attack with Axar, Ashwin and Washington Sundar enough to keep the ball rolling. Ashwin, from the other end, continued to contribute regularly. With four wickets in the 2nd innings, the veteran became only the third Indian spinner to go past the 400-wicket mark in Test cricket.
Meanwhile, Axar Patel finished with stunning match figures of 11/70. The left-arm spinner now has the best match figures for any bowler in day-night Tests. The record was previously held by Australia pace spearhead Pat Cummins for his figures of 10/62 against Sri Lanka in Brisbane in 2019/20.
Way forward
Both teams will now have their eyes set on the fourth and final Test of the series. The last match will be played at the same venue from March 4. India have already taken an unassailable lead in the series and will be looking to at least draw the last Test to book their place in the ICC World Test Championship final. England, on the other hand, are out of the WTC race but they can spoil India’s party if they win the last Test.
