Visakhapatnam: After a shocking 28-run loss in Hyderabad, India levelled the five-match series 1-1 with an emphatic 106-run win against England in the second Test at Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium here on Monday.
Chasing a record victory target of 399, the tourists started the fourth day on 67/1. They moved to 95 before the floodgates opened.
Axar Patel trapped nightwatchman Rehan Ahmed leg-before wicket, Ravichandran Ashwin snared important wickets of Joe Root and Ollie Pope, Kuldeep Yadav sent back top-scorer Zack Crawley (73) and the irrepressible Jasprit Bumrah scalped Jonny Bairstow.
Though England scored at a quick pace, they lost five wickets before lunch to give India a clear edge.
Skipper Ben Stokes was run out by a brilliant direct hit by Shreyas Iyer to push back England further.
Ben Foakes and Tom Hartley provided some resistance with a 55-run partnership for the eighth wicket, before Bumrah got into the act again.
The wily pacer had Foakes caught and bowled with a slower one, before sealing victory by castling Hartley with a beauty. In between, Mukesh Kumar got his first wicket of the match.
England were all out for 292 in 69.2 overs.
Such was Bumrah’s mastery with the ball, he was declared ‘Player of the Match’ for match figures of 9/91, even though young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a double century in India’s first innings.
“He (Bumrah) is a champion player for us,” said India captain Rohit Sharma.
Earlier Shubman Gill snapped a run of low scores to score his third Test century, helping India post an imposing target of 399. Axar Patel gave him able support with a well-made 45.
“Wonderful feeling, really enjoyed the game. One of the best moments to win a game for your country. We were just focusing on our process, focused on our fielding and I think it went well,” says Yashasvi Jaiswal, who helped India post a winning total of 396 with a magnificent 209 in the first innings, in a chat with the broadcasters at the end of the match.
The third Test in Rajkot begins on February 15.
