In a little over five sessions pink ball test has ended with India winning by 10 wickets. 30 wickets fell in five sessions, out of which 10 English wickets fell in one session. The ball turned all the time it looked as if every ball had a batsman’s name on it. Match lasted a total of 140.2 overs. The ball turning was a rule rather than exception as many deliveries turned ,bounced and jumped .Spinners took 28 wickets out of total of 30 .
Fast bowler did not bowl a single over in third or fourth innings explains how pitch was assisting spinners. Two fifties were scored in whole match which explains the challenge faced by batsman. Indian team went with 3 spinners backing their strength and England went with 3 pacers thinking that pink ball under lights will give them chance if swing . But by the 15th over of first innings of both teams it was clear that fast bowlers would be used to field at boundary and throw ball back to keeper.Even in favourable conditions right pace and length are key and Indian spinners were spot on with their lengths. Such was the panic created by spin deliveries that on straight ones England batsman were found wanting.
Axar and Ashwin combined to build a web around England batsman and were always second best. From 70/2 England team were skittled out for 112. Many thought Indian batsman will play better as they are the home team but such was impact of combination of spin delivery followed by straight ball that they too were found wanting. England who were spinner short on such wicket found an unlikely game changer in Root who with his off cutters was deadly and accounted for 5 wickets. When a part time spinner takes 5 wickets against a team that is considered good players of spin, it pretty much sums up the things . India lost their last 8 wickets for 46 runs to get bowled out for 145 runs ,but still gaining a precious 33 runs lead which on this wicket was like gold dust. Kohli sensing that pitch will deteriorate more opened with Axar -Ashwin duo and England team got streamrolled for 81.
If anything ball was jumping like a spitting cobra .Bounce and turn making batsman helpless and then the straighter one bringing their downfall. England was totally down and it was a mere formality for Indian team to knock the required 49 runs to gain 2-1 lead. With this loss England are out of WTC final race but still would like to be more competitive come the next test in seven days at same ground. Akshar Patel looks in red hot form right now and will be interesting to see when pitch is less responsive how he performs. Batsman should be willing to use their feet to unsettle the spinners as playing spinners inside crease on this type of pitch is like delaying the inevitable. Ishant in his 100th test saw his tweak mates making merry. Ashwin did get to 400 test wickets and surely can be proud of his achievements.
