ENG v IND 2021: 7 wickets falling in 54 minutes hard to take by any stretch of imagination - Sunil Gavaskar

England won the third Test by an innings & 76 runs at Headingley.

Virat Kohli scored 55 but could not go on to a bigger score | Getty Images

England roared back in the five-match series against India with a crushing win by an innings and 76 runs at Headingley in Leeds on Saturday (August 28). The series now stands level at 1-1 after India lost 8 wickets for just 63 runs on the fourth day to give away the lead they earnt at Lord's.

India's overnight batsmen, Cheteshwar Pujara (91) and Virat Kohli (55) failed to continue their good work from yesterday in front of some relentless bowling by England. Apart from Ravindra Jadeja (30), no other batsman could make any impression once Pujara and Kohli departed within the first hour's play.

Ollie Robinson (5/65) and Craig Overton (3/47) ran through the Indian batting line-up, while veteran James Anderson was relentless, particularly on the fourth day, but could only get one wicket in the second innings. In the process, he completed 400 Test wickets at home.

READ ALSO: ‘Pressure was relentless’, Virat Kohli reflects on first innings collapse after big loss in 3rd Test

It took England just one hour and 43 mins to wrap up the Indian innings at 278 on Day 4, and the last seven wickets were blown away in 54 minutes. In the first innings, India had crashed to 78 all out after being 56/3, hence the dramatic collapses would be a cause of concern for the visitors with two Tests still left in the series.

Former Indian captain, Sunil Gavaskar, reacted to the batting collapse on 'Extra Innings' for Sony Sports, as he said, "We did have some rear guard action at Lord's, when I think England lost the plot more than anything else.

Once those top three wickets fell, it was clear they were not going to be able to survive for too long. But yes, for seven wickets to fall in 54 minutes is, by any stretch of imagination, a little hard to take," he added.

The fourth Test starts on September 2 at The Oval in London.

 
 

By Saurabh Malhotra - 28 Aug, 2021

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