India had a lead of 32 with just one wicket remaining after ending the fourth day of the third Test against England at 239-9 in Kolkata yesterday.
Once again, the hosts’ batsmen failed to shine and it was left to off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to save India from total ignominy with a hard-fought 83 not out.
After Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir put on a brisk 86 for the first wicket, India slumped to 159-8 before fast bowler Ishant Sharma joined Ashwin and hung around for 53 balls before becoming Monty Panesar’s first and only victim of the day.
Fast bowler Steve Finn took 3-37 while off-spinner Graeme Swann and paceman James Anderson took two wickets apiece.
The remaining wicket came from a run out, Cheteshwar Pujara, who had made only 8, the unfortunate victim.
England had started the day on 509-6 but quickly folded to be dismissed for 523, Ashwin picking up two of the wickets to fall.
Fast bowler Zaheer Khan and Pragyan Ojha took the other wickets, the left-arm spinner finishing with figures of 4-142.
A win now looks inevitable for England, which will leave them 2-1 up in the series with one Test to play, which starts in Nagpur on Thursday.
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