India routed England by an innings and 25 runs inside three days in the fourth and final test on Saturday and booked a place in the world test championship final against New Zealand.
England finished for 135 in the second innings against the spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin (5-47) and Axar Patel (5-48) within two sessions on the third day to lose the series 3-1.
Dan Lawrence (50) fought a grim battle to score a half century before Ashwin clean bowled him to clinch the victory.India was earlier bowled out for 365 before lunch and got a lead of 160 runs
No 8 batsman Washington Sundar was left stranded on 96 not out after India lost the last three wickets within five balls after it resumed on 294-7. Washington Sundar hits out during his brilliant counterattacking innings that put India in firm control of the third test.Left-arm spinner Patel, who grabbed 11 wickets in the last test at the same venue in India’s 10-wicket win within two days, finished the game with yet another impressive haul of nine wickets in his hometown.
Overall, Ashwin and Patel claimed 59 wickets between them, at averages of 14.71 and 10.59 respectively in the series, as English uncertainties on spin-friendly surfaces were ruthlessly exploited. Ashwin is the player of the series.
India recovered well to clinch the series after losing the opening test at Chennai.The inaugural world test championship final is at Lord’s in June.