England win Cook’s last Test

England win Cook’s last Test

Dhaka, Sep 11 (Just News): James Anderson became the most successful fast bowler in Test history when he sealed England’s 118-run win over India at the Oval on Tuesday.

With just one wicket to fall, and Anderson needing one more to break the record of 563 he had shared with retired Australia great Glenn McGrath, the 36-year-old Lancashire paceman bowled Mohammed Shami to give England victory in the fifth Test and a 4-1 series win over the world’s top-ranked side.

India, set a mammoth 464 to win, collapsed to two for three on Monday, with Anderson striking twice.

But a sixth-wicket partnership of 204 between KL Rahul (149) and Rishabh Pant (114) on Tuesday gave them hope of an unlikely victory.

Leg-spinner Adil Rashid, however, removed both century-makers in a burst of two wickets for three runs in two overs after tea to leave India struggling at 328 for seven.

The scale of India’s task could be seen from the fact that no side have made more in the fourth innings to win a Test than the West Indies’ 418 for seven against Australia at St John’s, Antigua in 2003.


- ‘Brilliant’ Cook -

Alastair Cook was named man-of-the-match after England’s all-time leading Test run-scorer made 147 in his final innings before international retirement.

“I’m happy Cookie was on the field to see that wicket,” an emotional Anderson told Sky Sports. “He is my best mate and he’s been brilliant-there for me all the time.”
As for his record-breaking strike, Anderson added: “Thankfully Joe (Root, the England captain) let me take the new ball eventually which gave me a chance to get that wicket.”

Meanwhile Cook, who also made a hundred on Test debut against India in Nagpur, said: “It’s been an amazing week, one you couldn’t script
“To see Jimmy pass Glenn McGrath today was (great).”

India captain Virat Kohli, who tried to lead from the front with 593 runs this series, praised the fight shown by Tuesday’s century-makers.

“Credit must go to Pant and Rahul for standing up,” he said. “They showed the character we have in the team and the kind of cricket we played in the series.”
India resumed Tuesday on 58 for three. Rahul was 46 not out and Ajinkya Rahane unbeaten on 10.

All eyes were on Anderson as he bowled Tuesday’s first over, with the overcast conditions seemingly in his favour.

Rahul though clipped his sixth delivery of the day legside for four to complete a fifty-the first by an India opening batsman this series.

But a stand of 118 ended when Rahane (37) miscued a sweep off Moeen Ali to midwicket.

 

(Justnews/ys/2320hr)