India beat England by 106 runs on Day Four at Visakhapatnam to level the five-match series at 1-1 going into the third Test.
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England were bowled out for 292 in the fourth innings, chasing 399. Having lost Ben Duckett late in the evening session on Day Three, Rehan Ahmed put on 23 runs as night watchman at No.3 before he was lbw to Axar Patel. After Ollie Pope fell cheaply, Joe Root played a frenetic innings where he hit his first ball for four and slogged a six before he was out attempting another big hit to Axar.
Crawley stands tall
While wickets fell regularly at the other end, Zak Crawley looked in control at the other, reaching 73 as the morning session drew to a close. However, he was out in the penultimate over before Lunch after India successfully reviewed an lbw shout which looked to be sliding down the leg side. Jonny Bairstow was out to Jasprit Bumrah in the next over to complete five wickets falling in the first session.
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Stokes run out, Foakes defies but not for long
With Ben Stokes and Ben Foakes representing the last of England’s batters, their hopes rested on them to chase down the remaining 204 runs after Lunch. Both played cautiously, the partnership growing to 26 off 60 balls before it was broken. Stokes was run out by a direct throw from Shreyas Iyer, having started sluggishly from the non-striker’s end. His wicket effectively ended England’s chances of victory, but Tom Hartley and Ben Foakes putting on 55 together.
Hartley was the last wicket to fall, bowled by Jasprit Bumrah to give him his ninth in the match. England’s 292 is still the second-highest fourth innings score ever by a touring side in India, and the highest in a losing cause. The third Test will start on February 15 in Rajkot.
