Parthiv Patel made a strong case to be included in the team for the next Test against England in Mumbai with a quickfire 67 to take India to an emphatic eight-wicket win over India in the third Test on the fourth day in Mohali. India easily completed the chase of 103, cantering to the target in just 20.2 overs.
It represented a facile end to England in a Test where they had actually started on the right foot by calling correctly at the toss. They, however, failed to press home that advantage and even did not make India pay for several dropped chances. Only a fighting 89 from Jonny Bairstow ensured England passed 250, but their first innings score of 283 was hardly enough as India’s bowlers put up a strong show.
The tale continued with their bowling as England let India off the hook again after having them down for the count at 204/6 in their first innings. Not only did they not manage to get a first innings lead, defensive bowling to Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Jayant Yadav meant all three scored half-centuries as India took a 134-run first innings lead.
England crumbled in their second innings as Ravichandran Ashwin’s magic proved too much for them. They went to stumps on Day 3 at 78/4 and despite battling knocks from Joe Root and Haseeb Hameed just about managed to take England to 236. But India hardly were troubled, despite the early loss of Murali Vijay. Cheteshwar Pujara provided support to Parthiv Patel’s pyrotechnics before being dismissed right at the end.
Brief scores:
India 417 (Ravindra Jadeja 90, Ravichandran Ashwin 72; Ben Stokes 5/73, Adil Rashid 4/118) and 104/2 (Parthiv Patel 67 not out, Cheteshwar Pujara 25; Chris Woakes 1/16, Adil Rashid 1/25) beat England 283 (Jonny Bairstow 89, Jos Buttler 43; Mohammed Shami 3/63, Jayant Yadav 2/49) and 236 (Joe Root 78, Haseeb Hameed 59 not out; Ravichandran Ashwin 3/81, Mohammed Shami 2/37) by eight wickets