Hosts win fourth Test by innings and 54 runs to take 2-1 series lead
Reuters
Manchester, August 10
England's Moeen Ali and James Anderson made up for the loss of Stuart Broad through injury with a devastating bowling display as the hosts skittled India out for 161 to win the fourth test on Saturday for a 2-1 series lead.
Spin bowler Moeen took four wickets and also contributed with an accurate arm for a run out as India, facing a first innings deficit of 215 runs, collapsed again on the third day of the fourth test at Old Trafford.
England, having scored 367-9 in their first innings, won by an innings and 54 runs and after dominating the last two test matches will be full of confidence ahead of the final match at the Oval starting on Friday.
India totalled 152 in their first innings after recovering from eight for four and almost collapsed again in Saturday's final session when they lost five wickets for 13 runs.
Broad, who took 6-25 in India's first innings to win the man of the match award, retired injured while batting after being struck in the face, with the ball splitting his nose, but his departure was more than covered for by England's other bowlers.
As Broad left for X-rays that showed he had fractured his nose, Moeen stepped into the role of chief destroyer alongside Anderson, who had climbed from his sick bed to wreck the foundations for any Indian recovery with two early wickets.
England, 237-6 overnight, ended their first innings on 367-9, with Broad forced to retire injured after being struck by a bouncer from Varun Aaron that he glanced into his own face. The ball flew between his protective visor and helmet and struck Broad across the bridge of his nose, an injury that left him groggy and bloodied.
Broad, on zero, had resumed after lunch by pulling Aaron for two sixes in succession before mistiming a similar effort as he aimed for a third big hit.
Earlier, India paceman Pankaj Singh, who made his debut in the third test at Southampton, had claimed his first wicket in test cricket when he removed Joe Root (77) to end a robust 134-run partnership with Jos Buttler.
Singh soon doubled his wicket tally when he dismissed Buttler for 70 as England hurried to press home their advantage.
Broad's bloody departure brought in Anderson who joined Chris Woakes in adding 29 before he was out lbw to his recent antagonist Ravindra Jadeja.
Anderson was soon back in the middle to lead the England attack with Woakes who trapped Vijay lbw for 18. With heavy rain forecast for Sunday, England attacked relentlessly and India buckled as Anderson and Moeen took the initiative, the paceman removing Gautam Gambhir, caught by Buttler for 18, and Virat Kohli, caught by Bell at second slip for seven.
Moeen then took beguiling control. Having trapped Cheteshwar Pujara lbw for 17, he caught and bowled Ajinkya Rahane for one as India crumbled. A diving catch by Gary Ballance at midwicket removed Dhoni for 27 before Chris Jordan helped mop up the tail.
