Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow Guide England to Eng vs Ind Test Series Ends in 2-2 Draw

Eng vs Ind Test Series Ends in 2-2 Draw

Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow gave England a sensational 7-wicket win over India in the rescheduled fifth Test at Edgbaston. The record-run chase helped England draw the five-match Test series 2–2.

Root and Bairstow completely dominated the Indian bowlers in the opening session of the fifth day as they did not take much time to seal the game for the hosts.

The principle of ‘bazzball‘ is working well for the England batsmen who never took the pressure off while chasing their biggest goals.

The English pair started the fifth day with some quick runs as Root was the first player to score 100, while Bairstow also joined the club soon after.

The Indian bowlers were flat on the final day of the clash as they did not get any assist from the surface but the energy was definitely missing from their end.

He was overtaken by two England batsmen who are enjoying the form of their lives.

It was the fourth time England chased down a target of 250-plus in the fourth innings, the first three against New Zealand – 277, 299, 296 – in their 3-0 home Test series win last month.

Resuming the day at 259 for 3, England scored the required 119 runs in 19.4 overs to draw the series that lasted this year due to COVID-19 cases in the Indian camp last year.

Root’s 173-ball 142* came with 19 fours and a six, while Bairstow hit 15 fours and hit once over the ropes in her 114-run knock.

It was Bairstow’s second century of the match as he scored 106* off 140 balls in England’s first innings. He was adjudged Player of the Match for his twin centuries in the series decider.

The two shared an unbeaten 269-run stand for the fourth wicket as skipper Jasprit Bumrah (2/74) was the only India bowler to take a wicket in the second innings.

India dominated the match for the first three days, but they failed to hold their nerves in the last two days and pulled the game away to a 2-2 draw in the five-match series.

Rishabh Pant was the best performer for India in the match with a brutal knock of 146 runs in the first innings and a crucial 56 in the second innings, While Ravindra Jadeja also scored an important century in the first innings.

While the rest of the Indian batsmen failed to rise to the challenge, especially in the second innings where Cheteshwar Pujara was their highest scorer with 66 runs.

Brief Scores:

England: 284 and 378/3 in 76.4 overs (Joe Root 142 not out, Jonny Bairstow 114 not out, Alex Lees 56; Jasprit Bumrah 2/74) beat India 416 and 245 by seven wickets.