Ahmedabad: The largest cricket stadium in the world saw one of the bizarre games as India wrapped up the third Test against England by 10 wickets taking a 2-1 lead in the series. The game lasted less than two days as bowlers from both sides bombarded on Day 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday (February 25) — 17 wickets fell on the day.
However, it was the Men in Blue who had the last laugh in the evening. Local boy Axar Patel had a match to remember scalping 11 dismissals in the match.
After bowling out England for 112 in the first innings, India resumed Day 2 with their overnight first innings score of 99/3, trailing by 13 runs. With seven wickets in hand, the hosts were hoping to make a good first lead. However, Jack Leach broke the shackles trapping both Rohit Sharma (66) and Ajinkya Rahane (27) LBW before Joe Root wrapped up the Indian batting line for 145 with an outstanding 5/8.
In reply, however, the hosts came out all guns blazing. Ashwin and Patel spun their magic as the English batsmen failed to put up any sort of resilience getting all out for just 81. Such was the dominance of these two that besides only Washington Sundar was being used by skipper Virat Kohli.
Patel took his second fifer in the match (5/32) with Ashwin partnering him well with 4/48 while completing his feat of taking 400 Test wickets in the process. Ben Stokes with 25 was the top scorer for the visitors in their second innings.
With just 49 runs to seal the deal, Suhman Gill and Rohit Sharma got India to the victory with the latter hitting the winning run with a six to take his side over the line. Both the sides will lock horns in the 4th and final test the same ground starting From March 4.
