India back in the game as England bow to the inevitable at Trent Bridge

England lost the third Specsavers Test by a mammoth 203 runs as India cut the hosts' series lead to 2-1 with two to play.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Aug 2018, 12:13 BST
Updated 22nd Aug 2018, 13:15 BST
England's James Anderson walks off the pitch at the end of day five at Trent Bridge. Picture: Mike Egerton/PAEngland's James Anderson walks off the pitch at the end of day five at Trent Bridge. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA
England's James Anderson walks off the pitch at the end of day five at Trent Bridge. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA

England managed to delay the inevitable into the final day at Trent Bridge thanks to the batsmanship of Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes - and then Adil Rashid’s sketchy survival deep into the previous evening.

They resumed, however, on 311 for nine - one delivery away from defeat, with a world-record target of 521 to win a notional irrelevance.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It took just 17 balls, and 10 minutes, for the final wicket to fall in front of a sparse crowd - who did not pay to watch, after Nottinghamshire decided to allow free entry.

England's Adil Rashid adds runs in England's forlorn chase. Picture: Mike Egerton/PAEngland's Adil Rashid adds runs in England's forlorn chase. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA
England's Adil Rashid adds runs in England's forlorn chase. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA

They witnessed two uneventful overs and then the dismissal of number 11 James Anderson, caught at slip when a delivery from Ravi Ashwin spat and turned to loop up off his glove and end England’s second innings on 317 all out.

A match which was effectively won and lost inside one session on day two, when England lost all 10 first-innings wickets between lunch and tea, therefore concluded predictably.

India’s victory means all outcomes remain possible in this series, which will resume in Southampton next week.

Related topics:EnglandTrent BridgeIndiaJames AndersonBen StokesNottinghamshireSouthampton