4th Test, Day 4 at Southampton: England beat India by 60 runs, clinch series 3-1
-
Image Source : APIndian batting once again wilted miserably under trying circumstances as a relentless England recorded a comfortable 60-run victory in the fourth Test to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.
-
Image Source : AP
Chasing a tricky target of 245, India were bowled out for a paltry 184 on the fourth day on a pitch where survival wasn't a problem but run-scoring definitely was.
-
Image Source : AP
It was never an easy chase but what baffled all and sundry was the irresponsible batting by the middle and lower order, who gave up without a semblance of fight after a 101-run fourth wicket stand between skipper Virat Kohli (58, 130 balls) and his deputy Ajinkya Rahane (51, 159 balls).
-
Image Source : AP
The writing was on the wall when India were reduced to 22 for three in the first hour with KL Rahul (0), Shikhar Dhawan (17) and Cheteshwar Pujara (5) being dismissed cheaply.
-
Image Source : AP
India have never chased a target of 200 plus outside the sub-continent in the past three decades and the script didn't change this time round.
-
Image Source : AP
What will hurt Virat Kohli and his men most is the fact that they were beaten by one of the weakest teams in recent times. An ageing bowling attack of Jimmy Anderson-Stuart Broad along with off-spinner in Moeen Ali (5/63 and 4/71) tormented the Indians just like they did during the 2014 series.