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Shameles Dhoni’s team goes down again in three days | Day 3, 5th Investec Test at The Kia Oval, London

MS Dhoni’s Team India doesn’t seem to  have any shame nor has it learnt anything from its mistakes. On Sunday, India crumbled for a second successive innings defeat. It was the third worst defeat for India in its cricketing history as it got bundled out in a mere 29.2 overs, 143 minutes for 94! England won the 5th Investec Test at The Kia Oval as a result by an innings and 244 runs. The hosts captured the 5-match Investec Test Series 3-1 with only Lord’s being the aberration to lift the Pataudi Trophy 2014.

Above pic: LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 17: England captain Alastair Cook lifts the series trophy after winning the 5th Investec Test match between England and India at The Kia Oval on August 17, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

It was no surprise that the Test match finished on the third day itself given the way the Indian batsmen have got out repeatedly in elementary fashion. For starters, England piled up a massive first innings total of 486 while blasting the Indian bowlers for more than 10 runs per over for about 11 overs.

Joe Root brought up his 5th Test century, his second against India. The visitors did get an early wicket in the morning when Ishant Sharma got his short of length delivery to straighter outside off after angling in to Chris Jordan who was forced to nick it behind. Stuart Broad replaced Jordan and there was plenty of interest in watching him bat against the short balls given the fact that the former had his nose broken by Varun Aaron at Manchester.

Stuart Broad showed a lot of courage as he pulled and smashed the bowlers especially Varun Aaron. Broad raced away to 37 from just 21 balls with 5 fours and a six before he fended off a nasty lifter from Ishant Sharma to gully. Replays showed that Broad shouldn’t have been given out as the glove that was struck by the ball had come off the bat handle during the impact.

India was once again lucky to pick its last wicket when James Anderson was adjudged lbw to an R Ashwin drifter which was visibly missing leg with the angle from round the sticks. Joe Root with that was left unbeaten on 149 from 165 balls with 18 fours and a six. The yorkshireman would take that as he was bowled earlier off a noball from Ishant Sharma. The Indian bowling fell apart but Ishant Sharma held his own with respectable figures of 30-8-9-4.

The tourists began their second innings facing a huge deficit of 338 runs. By the time rain put an abrupt end to the morning session, England had made inroads removing openers Murali Vijay and Gautam Gambhir. Murali Vijay was outfoxed by James Anderson who set him up for the outswingers and shocked him with a breezy 140 kmph inswinger to have him lbw. Gautam Gambhir who was on a king pair avoided it and opened his account but ran himself out seeking a non-existent single from Chris Woakes at short mid wicket. A direct hit from Woakes had not only ended his innings but most probably his Test career as well!

Above pic: LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 17: James Anderson of England successfully appeals for the wicket of Murali Vijay of India for Lbw and 2 runs during day three of the 5th Investec Test match between England and India at The Kia Oval on August 17, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

When rain arrived, India was 9 for 2 in 6.1 overs. It wasn’t a huge delay as lunch was taken during most part of the rain interruption. And when the action started, it was the struggling Virat Kohli facing the very first ball from his nemesis Jimmy Anderson! Kohli got away from an early exit but his partner Cheteshwar Pujara didn’t and got out after a 19-ball stay. A perfect curly outswinger on a good length from Anderson had Pujara edging it behind.

In no time, Ajinkya Rahane was dismissed, jabbing on the backfoot to an away going delivery from Stuart Broad and the edge was plucked one handed to his left by Gary Ballance at third slip. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was out for a rare duck as he fell in the trap laid for a Chris Woakes short of length delivery which kicked up and had the former inside edging it to shortleg.

Virat Kohli who watched three wickets going down at the other end got himself out for 20 from 54 balls after attempting a rank bad flick from off stump line. It was a lovely late away swinger from Chris Jordan which forced a leading edge to the slip cordon as India slipped to 62 for 6.

Chris Jordan was on a roll finishing with dream figures of 4.2-0-18-4. He had R Ashwin and Bhuvneshwar Kumar wickets in a single over. While R Ashwin got out edging his push on the up, Bhuvneshwar edged his drive as Ian Bell took his second slip catch in that Jordan over.

Varun Aaron was next to depart when he tried to take a risky second run and fell short thanks to the combination of Moeen Ali from fine leg and Wicket Keeper Jos Buttler. The last man out was Ishant Sharma helplessly lobbing up a nasty high lifter off his face to short leg off Chris Jordan. Stuart Binny who is believed to have played his last Test innings remained unbeaten on 25 from 28 balls with 4 fours.

Joe Root was given the Man of the Match for his 149 not out. The Player of the Series for England was as expected given to James Anderson and the India Player of the Series was also on expected lines with Bhuvneshwar Kumar for his all-round efforts.