3rd Test: Jadeja’s five-wicket haul helps India hammer England by 434 runs

Rajkot, Feb 18 (IANS) – Local lad Ravindra Jadeja showcased his talent at his home ground as he claimed a five-wicket haul to lead India to a resounding 434-run victory over England in the third Test at the Niranjan Shah Stadium on Sunday.

In a day filled with Indian dominance, Yashasvi Jaiswal recorded an unbeaten double-century, with Shubman Gill and Sarfaraz Khan also making significant contributions as India declared their second innings on 430/4, setting England a daunting target of 557.

England struggled to cope with the pressure, and were bowled out for 122, with Jadeja’s impressive figures of 5-41 leading India to their largest margin of victory by runs in Tests.

The victory sees India take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, with England suffering their second-largest defeat in Tests under the scorching sun of Rajkot.

England’s chase got off to a cautious start, but they soon found themselves in trouble as they lost wickets at regular intervals. Ollie Pope, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, and captain Ben Stokes were among the batters who fell victim to India’s bowling attack.

Despite a brief resistance from Ben Foakes and Tom Hartley, India eventually wrapped up the match, securing a dominant win to assert their dominance in the series.

India’s 445 & 430/4 dec in 98 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 214 not out, Shubman Gill 91; Sarfaraz Khan 68 not out; Tom Hartley 1-78, Rehan Ahmed 1-108) proved too much for England, who could only muster 319 & 122 all out in 39.4 overs (Mark Wood 33; Ravindra Jadeja 5-41, Kuldeep Yadav 2-19) as they suffered a defeat by 434 runs.

The victory at Rajkot is a significant one for India as they go up in the series and they will be looking to carry this momentum forward as they aim to clinch the series in the upcoming matches.

Overall, it was a day of celebration for Indian cricket fans, as their team put in a dominant performance at the Niranjan Shah Stadium.