Virat Kohli lauds lower order contributions after Mohali win

Kohli, who remained unbeaten on six with opener Parthiv Patel (67 not out off 54 balls) as India overhauled the meagre target of 103 runs in just 20.2 overs, said the team is getting more confident after every win.

Hameed put on 41 runs for the last wicket with James Anderson before the Indian fielders ran out the number 11 batsman. He had scored only 17 runs off the first 117 balls he had faced. Ravichandran Ashwin continues to lead the bowlers rankings.

After conceding a 134-run first-innings lead, England had their backs firmly against the wall and Monday’s top-order collapse left them with an impossible task to save the game.

Alastair Cook was frank in his assessment of England’s defeat to India, admitting that the tourists misread the pitch in Mohali and got their selection wrong.

In reply, India posted a large 417, led efficiently by Kohli, Pujara and half-centuries from the three spinners. Chris Woakes and Adil Rashid got the two Indian wickets.

Despite an injured Haseeb Hameed scoring his second global half century, the tourists once again flattered to decisive with the bat as India knocked off the 103 runs required to stretch their unbeaten home run to 17 matches. His knock made sure that game got over on Day 4.

England started the day at 78 for four, trailing India by 56 runs.

Gareth Batty had gone wicketless in India’s first inning and he failed to trouble the scorers as night- watchman became day four’s first wicket to fall.

Jos Buttler (18) joined Joe Root and the former would show intent but certainly not sound judgement as he hit a four and a six before slogging down midwicket’s throat to give Jayant Yadav his second wicket of the innings.

The duo added 45 runs for the seventh wicket before Root was sensationally caught in the slips by Ajinkya Rahane off Jadeja. He refused to throw his towel and defied the Indian bowling attack with a spirited 59.

For South Africa, Faf du Plessis’s innings of 118 not out and 12 have helped him move up eight positions to 23rd rank while opener Stephen Cook has moved up 30 places to a career best 44th position after scoring 40 and 104 in Adelaide.

The visitors, who are currently trailing by 0-2 in the five-match series, will now need to consider a replacement to the squad ahead of the Mumbai Test which begins on December 8.