England completed a comprehensive 227 run victory over India in the
first test at Chennai.
Starting the final day the hosts needed an improbable 381 runs for
victory with England requiring nine wickets.

You just can’t keep Anderson out of the limelight

A sensational spell from James Anderson alongside four wickets from
Jack Leach earned England a famous victory, just the second home
defeat on their hosts in eight years.
On the opening morning, England won a crucial toss and elected to bat.

The visitors went into the game without opener Zak Crawley who
sprained a wrist.
The opening partnership of Rory Burns and Dom Sibley put on 63 before
Burns(33) was dismissed reverse sweeping off Ravi Ashwin. Essex’s
Dan Lawrence(0) lasted just five deliveries before Jasprit Bumrah
trapped him lbw with a fuller delivery.

Captain Root to the rescue again

It was down to Captain Joe Root- playing in his 100 th test and Sibley to
steady the ship. The pair added 200 before Bumrah struck in the last
over of the day to remove Sibley(87). Root finished the day unbeaten on
128, with his third test century in a row.

England continued to pile on the runs on the second day with Ben
Stokes making 82 before holing out to long on. Root continued to
frustrate the home attack and went on to a double century. The skipper
had made 218 when Shahbaz Nadeem struck to end a magnificent
innings.

Root in the form of his life

Root- in the form of his like having hit two double centuries and a century
in his last five innings- once again led by example.
England were eyeing up a big first innings total, but hadn’t bargained for
Ishant Sharma picking up two quick wickets. The experienced paceman
had Jos Buttler(30) and Jofra Archer(0) out in successive deliveries.
Dom Bess avoided the hat trick ball and finished the day unbeaten on
28.

On the third day England were eventually dismissed for 578 with Bess
adding a further six runs.

India struggle early on

India were reduced to 73 for 4 with Archer and Bess taking two wickets
apiece. The home side were rescued by a fifth wicket partnership that
yielded 119 runs between Pujara and Rishabh Pant. Bess had
Pujara(73) caught at short midwicket and when the dangerous Pant(91) miscued to deep cover to give Bess his fourth scalp England were on
top.

Pant’s excellent attacking innings of 91 off 88 balls was looking like a
century was on the cards for the exciting player to watch. Much to
England’s relief that didn’t happen.

The host having to work hard for their runs

It was down to Ashwin and Washington Sundar to steer India to 257 for 6
at the close, still 321 runs behind.
England kept chipping away at the Indian batting line up on day four and
eventually bowled the home side out for 337 with Sundar undefeated on 85. Bess ‘s hard work was rewarded with figures of 4-76. England decided against enforcing the follow on with an overall lead of 241.

England decide against enforcing the follow on

The visitors lost Burns(0) first ball to Ashwin. The old campaigner
Ashwin then bagged the wicket of Sibley(16) as the visitors went for quick
runs to set up a declaration. The visitors were eventually bowled out for 178 with Aswin taking 6-61 to leave India 420 to win.

The home side lost Rohit Sharma(12) before the close to leave India needing 381 to win and England to take nine wickets for victory.
Pujara(15) fell to a superb catch by Ben Stokes at slip before some
magic from Anderson inspired England.

Sensational over from Jimmy

The veteran seamer produced a sensational over of reverse swing to
bowl Shubman Gill(50) and Rahane(0). The man from Burnley then
removed the key wicket of Plant(11). Sundar(0) lasted only five balls
before edging behind off Bess to leave India at lunch 144-6 and England well on course for victory.

One man stood in the way of the England victory charge and that was
the Indian Captain Kohli. Root decided to bring Stokes into the attack
and it paid off when the all-rounder bowled Kohli for 72 to end any
thoughts of an Indian resistance.

Leach and Archer polished of the tail to secure a convincing win for the
tourists. Somerset’s Leach ending with 4-76 and Anderson 3-17 to leave
England 1-0 up in the four test series.