Virat Kohli-led Team India have successfully registered a convincing win against England. With this, they have taken a lead as well in the five-match Test series.
While India posted 191 runs in their first innings due to their poor show with the bat, England managed to put up 290 runs in reply. However, India bounced back in their second innings and with Rohit Sharma’s stunning century, they put up 466 runs, giving the host a massive total to chase down.
Meanwhile, England started well in their chase as they didn’t lose any wicket on Day 4. But Indian bowlers bowled really well on the final day. While Umesh Yadav claimed three wickets, Shardul Thakur, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah picked up two each, bowling out the hosts within 210 and helped India win by a huge 157 runs.
India conquer The Oval – their first Test win at the venue since 1971 💪#WTC23 | #ENGvIND | https://t.co/zRhnFiKhzZ pic.twitter.com/aH7r53QMst
— ICC (@ICC) September 6, 2021
After the win, Virat Kohli said: “The character that the side has shown, to come back from 100 run deficit showed that we were not down and out. I said at Lord’s as well, I am proud of the character, among the top three bowling performances I have witnessed as India captain. It’s relative what you call flat, field wasn’t wet like the first three days, ball got scuffed up nicely, one side heavier, and exploited reverse swing perfectly. We believed as a team that we could get all ten wickets.”
While talking about Bumrah, he said: “27 runs off 22 overs on this kind of pitch, a huge effort. When it started reversing he just said give me the ball.”
He further added about Shardul Thakur: “Rohit’s innings was outstanding, but the impact performance from the lower-middle order, Shardul’s fifty was the difference, and a counterattack in the second innings. Looking to restrict us but he was outstanding. We never got towards statistics, we know what we focus on, we take a call on what feels best and we believe we can win Tests with it. Whatever the noise on the outset, it doesn’t bother us.”
“Unfortunate they aren’t here but they just called us. it’s a real momentum boost. We are looking forward to opportunities to step on the field for India. And the fans have been outstanding too,” he concluded.
“Frustrating not to get something from the game today” – Joe Root
A disappointing session.
Scorecard/Clips: https://t.co/AEzwlCDErk
🏴 #ENGvIND 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/XIxWbbUQMQ
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 6, 2021
Meanwhile, England captain Joe Root said: “Frustrating not to get something from the game today, we felt we had an opportunity to win, but credit to India, they got the ball to reverse and that was the turning point. Could have made more of a first-innings lead, and you have to make chances count against world-class players. Got to find ways to get better but be realistic and realise that was world-class bowling. It might reverse at OT, we’ll have to manage it better. Whenever you lose the game you can look at the toss, but we’ve got to be more ruthless, and make that a 200-run lead. Got to be clinical, not be comfy, make big partnerships. We have played good cricket and important to remember that.”
For his fantastic 127 in the second innings, Rohit Sharma is named the Player of the Match 🌟#WTC23 | #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/owfPgp05Xv
— ICC (@ICC) September 6, 2021
The Player of the Match, Rohit Sharma said: “I wanted to be on the field but getting that hundred was special, 100 behind we knew how important it was to give them a target of 370-odd. A great effort from the batting unit. It’s my first overseas hundred, so obviously my best one. The three-figure mark wasn’t in my mind, we knew the pressure on the batting unit, but kept our heads down and batted the situation.
“Not been preying on my mind, just try to get the team into a good position. With 30, or 80, or 150-plus. I used to bat middle-order, but I know the importance of opening. Once you’re in you’ve got to make it count. It’s important to embrace the challenge, back in Durham we had time off to look at our training and technique, after WTC we had 20-25 days and that was a game-changer. Batted well as we’ve been challenged, especially at Leeds, but that can happen. The message from the physio [re hamstrings] is ‘assess every minute, don’t look too far ahead‘,” he concluded.
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