On the final day of the fifth Test against England, Virat Kohli-led India defeated England by an innings and 75 runs. With a brilliant performance by Indian spinner Ravindra Jadeja, England fell into a humiliating defeat at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk in Chennai. And this victory gave India a resounding 4-0 series win over England, extending their winning streak to 18 matches.
Ravindra Jadeja spun England into oblivion taking test best figures of seven for 48, he was India’s match-winner, taking ten wickets for the first time in a match and seven wickets for the first time in a Test innings as well as grabbing two catches but the majority of the batsmen fell to needlessly aggressive shots.
Speaking after the match, Ravindra Jadeja says, “I really enjoyed bowling. It was a good experience bowling on a flat wicket. There was no assistance from the pitch and still a five-wicket haul and I am very happy that there was no such help from the wicket but we still did well.”
Virat Kohli said he could not have asked for anything more than an emphatic triumph over England in the last Test match after the series had already clinched in Mumbai. “Couldn’t have asked anything more and especially after winning the series 3-0 and Performing like this. It’s an evidence of the character of this side and what the guys prepare for a Test match, playing for the country” Virat Said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
Most expectations were of a draw given the lack of spin on the surface and that only 17 wickets had fallen in the past four days in Chennai. In that time, England had scored 477 and India a record 759/7 declared. When England resumed their second innings on the final day of the fifth Test match, England openers started the day at 12/0 and turned their overnight vigil into a century. Was it enough to stop England’s batsmen soldiering on for a draw? As Jadeja proved, from 106/3 in 45 overs, England were bowled out for 207 in 88 overs.
India’s fifth day charge was led by the left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, whose rapid fires being the decisive factor in India’s innings and 75-run win, one that extended their unbeaten winning streak to 18 matches and gave them the series resounding 4-0.
Trailing by 282, English openers, Alastair Cook (49) and Keaton Jennings (54) put up a solid stand of 103 to guide the visiting team to lunch losing without a wicket. Since openers’ departure, wickets kept falling for England and pressure kept mounting over visitors. However, things changed in the second session as they lost four wickets before tea, then Jadeja made the finishing touches on India’s thrilling win with the last two wickets with the new ball. Indian bowlers went for a rapid strike in the final session of the day as the English resistance crumbled to dedicate the victory to India.
The England tourists collapsed, began from Mirpur in Bangladesh when they lost all ten wickets (10/64) in one session before this tour, and now it has culminated with them losing their final six wickets for only 15 runs with only Alastair Cook, Moeen Ali and Keaton Jennings providing any counteraction in Chennai. Collapse England is the new trend.
When it came time to name the Man of the Match, the prize went to Karun Nair, who is crowned for his epic unbeaten 303.
