KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 09
England have thrashed India by 227 runs in the first of the four-match test series played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai on Tuesday, taking a 1-0 lead in the series on Tuesday.
Chasing a mammoth 420 runs, India succumbed to disciplined bowling led by veteran James Anderson who scalped three top-order batsmen while spinner Jack Leach ripped through a strong Indian middle-order with four wickets.
England took a 241-run lead in the first innings after bowling out India for 337. Skipper Joe Root hit a blistering 218 runs while two half-centuries came from opener Dom Sibley (87) and Ben Stokes (82).
The first innings lead was so huge that even Ravichandaran Ashwin's six wickets in the second innings could not prevent England from scooping 178 runs before being all out to chase over 400 plus in the sub-continent's spin-friendly track.
Indian Skipper Virat Kohli, who returned to the national fold after his paternity leave, played a lone battle and delayed England's victory before being castled by Ben Stokes for 72 runs.
Joe Root was adjudged man of the match for his measured double century and the fifth overall in the format.
In-form skipper Root scored a back-to-back double century after hitting 228 and 186 knocks during the tour to Sri Lanka and carried his bat from where he had left in the island nation.
The second test match of the four-match series will be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium before moving to Ahmedabad for the two remaining matches.
