India’s resistance on the penultimate day of the Headingley Test lasted less than a session as a five-wicket haul from Ollie Robinson handed England victory by an innings and 76 runs at Leeds on Saturday.
Much was expected from the Indian middle-order after their good show with the bat on Day 3 as Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli resumed the fight but it fizzled out sooner than expected under bright sunshine and good batting conditions.
India resumed on their overnight score of 215 for 2 and lost the first wicket without adding anything to the total as Robinson struck in the fourth over of the day when Pujara shouldered arms on 91 and got hit plumb in front.
Pujara, who batted in his typical style on the previous day, made a serious error in judgement and walked back falling agonisingly short of his 19th Test hundred.
The collapse started from there onwards as Robinson then accounted for skipper Kohli, who brought up his 26th fifty before edging one to his English counterpart Joe Root at first slip.
Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane’s poor form with the bat continued as he edged a James Anderson delivery to the wicketkeeper for 10 before Rishabh Pant fetched a wide delivery to be caught at third slip for 1.
Fast bowlers Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami offered little resistance and got out to Robinson and Moeen Ali, respectively, in single digit scores.
Robinson finished with figures of 5 for 65, his second five-wicket haul in the format.
Earlier, England lost their last two wickets quickly to be all out for 432 in their robust reply to India’s meagre first innings total. India, who were all out for 78 in the first innings, remain on the back foot having conceded a huge first innings lead of 354 runs.
