Mumbai: India defeated England by 434 runs in the third Test in Rajkot to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match Test series. It is India’s biggest-ever win (by runs) in the history of Test cricket. India’s previous biggest Test win (by runs) had come in December 2021, when they defeated New Zealand by 372 runs at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
England is suffering at 18/2 at Tea on Day 3, with 359 runs still needed to win the Rajkot Test. Day four’s second session was picked up by India at 314/4, with Sarfaraz Khan (22*) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (149*) at the wicket.
With a 440-run advantage, the hosts are still in complete control of the match. With the opening ball of the 87th over, bowled by seasoned seamer James Anderson, Sarfaraz smashed a boundary, allowing both batsmen to complete their century-run partnership in just 88 balls.
The right-hand rookie reached his second successive fifty when he hit a boundary off the fourth delivery of leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed’s 96th over. In the first delivery of the following over (the 97th over), Jaiswal scored his second double century in red-ball cricket after taking a single off of Anderson’s bowl.
In order to take the lead in the current five-match series, India declared their second innings after amassing 430 runs with the loss of four wickets and set a massive target of 557 runs for the visitors to chase. With the help of six boundaries and three sixes, Jaiswal and Sarfaraz ended their innings at an undefeated 214* runs, studded with 14 fours and 10 sixes, and 68* runs, respectively.
Together, the two bats amass 172 runs in unbroken fashion. Ben Duckett and Zak Crawly, the openers, took the field in an attempt to chase a massive sum. After losing Duckett to a runout in the seventh over, the Three Lions did not enjoy the kind of start that the team had hoped for.
The visitors lost their second wicket in the eighth over, shortly before tea, when Jasprit Bumrah removed Crawly for just 11 runs. India had 196/2 at the beginning of the fourth day, with Kuldeep Yadav (3*) and Gill (65*) unbeaten at the wicket.
As the first session went on, Gill and Kuldeep became close friends. While on the crease, the 24-year-old Indian opener hit two sixes and nine fours. Gill missed his second century of the current series by an only nine runs, which was unfortunate. Ben Stokes and Tom Hartley combined to run him out for 91 runs in the 64th over. Jaiswal returned to the field following Gill’s wicket and is currently at 149*.
Jaiswal was forced to quit earlier on day three due to an injury. After English spinner Rehan Ahmed removed Kuldeep for 27 runs, he claimed the second wicket of the day. After being the nightwatchman, Kuldeep managed to hold off 91 balls, but he was unable to stop the English spin attack. Following Kuldeep’s dismissal, Sarfaraz entered the game.
The 26-year-old arrived shortly after and immediately got to work, smashing two fours and one overhead boundary. After only six balls, Jaiswal and Sarfaraz have already forged a 56-run partnership. The hosts are still having the advantage over Rajkot.
Test as in the last 10 overs of the first session on day four, India scored 56 runs, meanwhile, England failed to bag a wicket. Brief Score: England 319 & 18/2 (Zak Crawly 11, Ben Duckett 4, Jasprit Bumrah 1/8) vs India 445 & 430/4 decl. (Yashasvi Jaiswal 214*, Shubman Gill 91, Tom Hartley 1/78).
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