(Cricket News) Thanks to a double century from rookie batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal and a five-wicket haul from left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, India romped to their best victory in Test cricket history by dismissing England for 122 runs while chasing a goal of 557.
India was dominating the third Test match in Rajkot after taking a commanding 126-run lead in the first innings. They did not let up as they easily defeated the visitors in under 40 overs on Sunday at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium. India is ahead 2-1 in the five-match series.
On the strength of Jaiswal’s incredible double century, the hosts set England the lofty aim during play on the fourth day. Before India declared their second innings at 430-4, he slammed an unbeaten 214, Shubman Gill produced 91, and debutant Sarfaraz Khan hit his second fifty of the game. Jaiswal followed up his 209 in the second Test in Visakhapatnam with another six, matching Wasim Akram’s record of 12 in an innings of Test cricket.
Four of England’s top-order hitters failed to reach double digits as India’s spinners, led by Jadeja, combined to capture nine wickets. In the first innings, India dismissed England for 319 runs after the tourists’ batting slumped from 299 to 5, even without the services of prominent spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Saturday.
After getting his 500th wicket in the Test just hours before, Ashwin had to leave the field due to a family emergency on day two. However, he returned to the field on day four and took his 501st wicket. After fellow spinner Anil Kumble (619), he is the second Indian bowler to collect 500 wickets. He is only the ninth bowler in Test history. The match was basically over when England skipper Ben Stokes was removed by Kuldeep Yadav for a leg before wicket (15).
Mark Wood scored thirty-three runs in a flash before being removed as the final England batsman.
