Sports Desk
Chennai: England have outclassed India by 227 runs in the first Test of the four-match series at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium.
The home side in pursuit of 420 were bowled out for 192 courtesy of a brilliant bowling display English spinner Jack Leach and veteran James Anderson. For India, captain Virat Kohli made 72 while young Shubman Gill scored 50. No other batsman made major contributions.
Earlier, India resumed on 39-1 but lost their top runmakers after overnight batsman Cheteshwar Pujara fell for 15 off Leach.
Gill after completing his third Test fifty was undone by classic reverse swing bowling by James Anderson. Anderson three balls later, cleaned up Ajinkya Rahane for nought.
Anderson got India’s first innings hero Rishabh Pant for 11 and spinner Dom Bess chipped in with the wicket of Washington Sundar for nought as India slipped to 117-6.
Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin stood firm but their stay was over as Leach once again bowled a beauty to remove Ashwin.
Later, Kohli was sent back to the pavilion as his stumps were castled by Ben Stokes. The innings were wrapped up soon after Kohli’s dismissal.
English skipper Joe root was awarded player of the match for his brilliant double-century in first inning. The second Test will be played at the same venue from February 13th.
