Ashwin spins India to Test series win

Dec 12, 2016 - 7:18 AM Offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin has blown away England's lower-order resistance to spin India to a crushing series-clinching victory on the final day of the fourth Test in Mumbai.

The touring side, who resumed the final day on 6-182, were able to add only 13 runs to their total as Ashwin (6-55) took all four remaining wickets in a little more than half an hour, and the hosts won by an innings and 36 runs at Wankhede Stadium.

The five-wicket haul was the 24th for the world's top-ranked Test bowler and his seventh 10-wicket haul after the 30-year-old also took six wickets in England's first innings, inspiring India to an unassailable 3-0 lead.

England had beaten India in their past three Test series, including a 2-1 triumph on their last visit in 2012, but the tourists have been thoroughly outplayed by the hosts since drawing the opening match in Rajkot.

"This series win is probably the sweetest of all we've won so far in the past 14-15 months," India captain Virat Kohli said following his side's fifth series victory in a row.

"It could not get any better.

"To win at Wankhede, going three-nil against a top-quality side that has beaten us convincingly last two times, it feels really good."

Trailing by 49 runs entering the final day, England's hopes of making India bat again rested on a pair of wicketkeeper-batsmen - Jonny Bairstow, who was unbeaten on 50 overnight, and Jos Buttler.

Bairstow, however, misread Ashwin's "carrom" ball, a finger-spinner delivered with the knuckle, to be struck in front of the wicket after adding just a run to his overnight score and was unable to overturn the leg before decision on review.

Ashwin then claimed a wicket in each of his next three overs to bring about a quick end to proceedings as England's lower order capitulated meekly.

Some angry words were exchanged between James Anderson and the India players when the England No.11 walked in to bat, with the umpires forced to intervene to prevent the incident escalating further.

On what has been a generally dismal tour for England, they also picked up an unwelcome statistic of becoming just the third side in Test history to compile 400 in the first innings and still lose by an innings.

"Historically on this ground 400 is a good score in the first innings and in the second innings, we had our chances," England captain Alastair Cook said.

"We've just not taken those chances.

"We were in the game for three days but not good enough to take those opportunities and that's what cost us."

Ashwin, who has won the man of the series awards in each of India's past four Test series, took his tally to 27 wickets from the four matches against England.

Man-of-the-match Kohli, who hit 235 in India's massive first-innings total of 631 for his third double century of the year, leads the scoring list with 640 at an average of 128.

The fifth and final Test will be played in Chennai from Friday.

Source: AAP