India’s goose well and truly cooked at the Bowl

Moeen Ali proves the hero on final day as England draws level in the series

July 31, 2014 05:56 pm | Updated November 16, 2021 05:45 pm IST - Southampton

Southampton was wide awake. A long queue stretched in front of the ticket counters. Anticipation hung in the air as the fans got ready for their perfect outing at the Ageas Bowl — witnessing a much-awaited England victory on a sunny Thursday.

Inside, the Indian team played football and, as usual, M.S. Dhoni was hoodwinking the defence.

Those minutes of relaxation quickly waned for the visitor and once the third Test’s final day commenced, there was only a sense of strife and a feeling of claustrophobia as ‘man of the match’ James Anderson persevered on and around the off-stump.

In the end, the match wound down towards its predictable climax — an England triumph by 266 runs. Chasing a steep 445, India was bowled out for 178 in its second innings. Alastair Cook’s men were ecstatic with the win, coming as it did after nearly a year’s wait.

The series is now level at 1-1 and the final nail that deflated India’s lead secured at Lord’s, was delivered 10 minutes before lunch.

Moeen Ali, in the news for the wristbands he wore with regard to the Middle-East crisis at Gaza, made a loud cricketing statement about his bowling ability, castling last-man Pankaj Singh to bag his sixth wicket (six for 67). On the final morning, India batted just 24.4 overs, mustered 66 and lost its last six wickets. In a week’s time, Dhoni’s men will step into Manchester’s Old Trafford for the fourth Test, while grappling with the return of an old malaise — the losses that pile-up overseas. Resuming at the overnight 112 for four, India didn’t add anything when Rohit Sharma moved his front foot forward and tried to defend against Anderson. There was a distinct sound, the England fielders appealed vociferously and a reluctant Rohit retreated towards the pavilion. In the midst of a nagging spell, Anderson, after watching Dhoni dab one for four to third-man, scalped the Indian skipper in the same over. A tentative Dhoni fished and Anderson punched the air.

The speedster had bagged two wickets in 12 deliveries and his overall morning spell of 6-2-11-2 left India in a shambles. Ajinkya Rahane (52 n.o.) and Ravindra Jadeja propped up the lone act of resistance, but it wasn’t enough.

The duo shared a 32-run seventh-wicket partnership off 78 balls and Jadeja twice cut Ali for four. The off-spinner took that in his stride and soon forced Nasser Hussain to utter on air: “Moeen Ali, part-time spinner no more!”

Ali, who bowled accurately besides targeting the rough outside the left-hander’s off-stump, castled Jadeja. The southpaw drove, missed the line and trudged away in a state of shock. Sighting Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ali switched to his conventional over-the-wicket line, the all-rounder poked, the catch was taken and the tail refused to wag.

The fight had gone out of India and it was evident when Mohammed Shami immediately tried to loft Ali! The miscued hit fell in no-man’s land and seeing his partner’s temperament or lack of it, Rahane lashed his fours to get near his fifty.

Comic relief

Shami succumbed to Ali and there was a touch of comic relief for the fans as Pankaj Singh strode in and revived memories of the classic last-man: Courtney Walsh.

He tried to loft, but missed; he tried to evade a bouncer, but got into a tangle; and finally when he got his first run, the stadium broke into warm applause.

Rahane toyed a bit with the idea of retaining his strike, then gave up that effort and Ali scalped Pankaj, but not before the last-wicket pair clattered a few fours. They were the mere flickers of a dying flame.

Ojha to replace Saha

Wriddhiman Saha will miss the rest of the Test series in England, due to injury. A BCCI press-release stated that ‘Naman Ojha has beenpicked as his replacement. Ojha will join the (Test) squad at the earliest.’

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