England smash India to win first Test

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  • Post published:February 9, 2021

England delivered a clinical bowling display on Tuesday to wrap up the first Test in Chennai against India with a comfortable 227-run victory.

The hosts were on the back foot following England’s mammoth first-innings score, which gave Joe Root’s men the opportunity of a rare victory in India.

Chasing 420 to win, India lost the crucial wicket of Rohit Sharma for only 12 before the close of play on day four.

READ: England edge closer to victory in Chennai

India resumed on 39-1, left with a massive task at hand, which only got more difficult with James Anderson and Jack Leach doing the damage.

Leach accounted for Cheteshwar Pujara, before Anderson picked up the three big wickets of Shubman Gill (50), Ajinkya Rahane (0) and Rishabh Pant (11) as India fell to 110-5.

Washington Sundar also departed for a duck when Dom Bess nicked him off. But, Virat Kohli offered strong resistance and shared in a 54-run partnership with Ravi Ashwin before the spinner became Leach’s third scalp.

The Indian skipper brought up his own half-century in the process but Ben Stokes knocked him over for 72.

Leach added Shahbaz Nadeem to his list, finishing with figures of 4-76, while Jofra Archer sealed the win for England with the final wicket of Jasprit Bumrah.

India were dismissed for 192 with half a day remaining as England secured their sixth consecutive Test win in Asia.

Root also drew level with Michael Vaughan as England’s most successful Test captain in the process.

The second Test gets under way on Saturday.