Thursday 31 July 2014
England v India, 3rd Investec Test, Ageas Bowl, 5th day
 |
| Anderson after dismissing Rohit Sharma |
Skipper Alastair Cook remarked during the presentation that it was "indeed a perfect test match for the team".
Yes indeed it was, their Batsmen put runs on the board, most importantly Cook scoring 95 & 70*, their fast bowlers cleaned up India's 1st innings, and the part-timer Moeen Ali displaying the attributes of an All-Rounder.
The Off-Spinner bagged 6 wickets to grant England to a cruising 266-run victory over India on 5th day that leaves the series at 1-1 with 2 matches to go.
India crumbled to 178 all out in their 2nd innings on Thursday morning thanks to Ali's superb figures of 6/67, his 1st 5-wicket haul in tests.
England thus, secured their 1st Test victory since they beat Australia at Durham last August, ending their 10-mach winless streak.
Moeen dismissed Jadeja, B Kumar & Shami within 12 deliveries, before he bagged the final wicket of Pankaj Singh.
Earlier, James Anderson, led England off to the perfect start by getting the key wickets of Rohit Sharma & MS Dhoni.
India's lone warrior Ajinkya Rahane played with tremendous composure scoring his 2nd half-century of the match, but his unbeaten 52 was in vain as he got little to no support from the other end.
Anderson got Sharma to edge one faintly through to the debutant wicket-keeper Buttler before dismissing Dhoni in similar a fashion with a ball that swung away from the right-handed batsman.
Just then captain Cook made a crucial bowling change, by bringing Moeen who bowled Jadeja before getting Kumar's wicket, who edged on to his pad and the ball looped up to Anderson at gully.
He continued to trouble the Indian batsmen & bowled Shami and Singh to wrap up a well-deserved victory for the side.
The 4th Test will take place on 7-11 August at Old Trafford, Manchester.
