The title sums up the whole situation of the series. The third test that was played on the world’s biggest ground, Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, was more than a part and parcel of the game.
After ending in five sessions, the third test match surprised the whole cricketing base. The England team won the toss and decided to bat. But right from the start, they were uncomfortable against the Indian bowling attack. The pink ball test grew more interesting as soon as the Indian spinners came to bowl. Very soon, for a low score of 112, the whole England team was inside their dugout.
A stellar performance by the local left-arm spinner Axar Patel fetched him six wickets in the first innings. As all of us noticed, the England batsmen faced major difficulties in playing the straight balls that Patel bowled. However, very soon, as the Indian batsmen started suffering against spin too, it got clear that even the pitch had a part to play.
England’s caption Joe Root achieved career-best figures of 5-8 in bowling, as England bowled out India for 145. When the England batsmen came out, they were trailing by 33 runs. But again, Axar Patel and his magic with the pink ball started getting the better out of them.
He took five wickets in the second innings while also achieving his first 10-wicket haul in test cricket, as the England team got out on 81 runs.
The Indian openers were left with the small task of chasing 49 runs in the second innings. They did so with ease and, India won the pink ball test.
The defeat also meant that the England team is now out of the World Test Championship. The match progressed quickly and, both the teams weren’t up to their marks in terms of batting. But in the end, the Indian team did an inch better than their opponents.
Their chances of facing New Zealand in the WTC’s final have increased, after their win in the third test. However, they still need to avoid defeat in the fourth and final test, which will be played at the same venue.
It should be an exciting match.
