SOUTHAMPTON: MOEEN Ali spun England to victory as they ended a streak of 10 Tests without a win by beating India by 266 runs in the Third Test at Southampton yesterday.
Ali took six for 67 in 20.4 overs, including a spell of four for 17 in 22 balls as England completed a crushing win that saw them level the five-match series at 1-1.
India, chasing what would have been a new fourth innings record winning total of 445, were bowled out for 178 before lunch on the fifth day.
After resuming on 112 for four, India collapsed as they lost their final six wickets for 66 runs inside 25 overs on Thursday, with only Ajinkya Rahane (52 not out) offering much in the way of resistance.
India, 1-0 up after their 95-run win in the second Test at Lord’s, resumed knowing the most any side had made in the fourth innings to win a Test is the 418 for seven by the West Indies against Australia at St John’s in 2002/03.
The tourists had lost three wickets late Wednesday to England’s ‘part-time’ spinners Ali (two for 33 in 12 overs) and Joe Root (one for five in two overs) after Murali Vijay had been run out.
Rahane was 18 not out and Rohit Sharma dropped on five by James Anderson after he put down a caught and bowled chance, six not out.
But India lost a wicket without adding to their score.
Man-of-the-match Anderson struck with his third ball Thursday after Sharma, feeling for the ball a long way outside off stump, was caught behind by Test debutant wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.
And it was not long before the Lancashire duo combined again as India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (six) was undone by an excellent full-length delivery that nipped away off the seam.
Anderson had taken two wickets for six runs in 12 balls, with India now 120 for six. AFP