Ishant Sharma did the star turn, bagging seven wickets, as India scored a thumping 95-run victory over England in the second Test at Lord’s on Monday.
Chasing 319 for victory, the hosts, 105 for 4 at stumps on Day 4, were shot out for 223 in 88.2 overs in the post-lunch session of the final day.
Ishant finished with figures of 7 for 74, and became the first Indian bowler to have a seven-wicket haul in England. The lanky pacer exploited the conditions well, claiming five wickets on the fifth day, all his victims perishing to the bouncer!
The victory was India’s first at Lord’s in 28 years, having last won at the venue by five wickets in June 1986 when Kapil Dev was captain.
It was also India's first victory overseas after 15 Tests and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's first in five Tests in England.
The last time India won a Test match outside the South Asian region was back in 2011 when they defeated West Indies in a 1-0 series win.
Victory was achieved in the 89th over when James Anderson tapped a Ravindra Jadeja delivery towards short cover and set off for non-existent single. The latter, though, was alert enough to pick the ball and break the stumps down with a direct throw, triggering off wild celebrations.
Skipper Dhoni, as usual, collected a stump as souvenir as the jubilant Indian players hugged each other, with the support staff and reserve bench applauding them from the hallowed balcony.
Resuming at a precarious 105 for four on the final day, overnight batsmen Joe Root (66) and Moeen Ali (39) batted with determination, adding 101 runs in 44.4 overs, before Ishant struck at the stroke of lunch.
He got one to rear up awkwardly as left-hander Ali took his eyes off the ball. It hit the batsman’s glove and ricocheted to short leg for Cheteshwar Pujara to complete a simple catch.
Then came a series of horrible pull-shots as every new England batsman at the crease fell to the bait of pulling Ishant.
Matt Prior (12) deposited a mistimed pull in the safe hands of Murali Vijay, specifically stationed at the deep mid-wicket boundary for that shot.
Ben Stokes (0) completed a hat-trick of ducks when he sent a skier which Pujara accepted gleefully.
Root, who looked solid in defence, then pulled one straight down Stuart Binny's throat at deep square leg.
When Stuart Broad (8) gloved one down the leg side to Dhoni, Ishant broke Amar Singh's 78-year-old record (6 for 35) by registering the best bowling figures by an Indian at the 'Mecca of Cricket'.
Interestingly, this is also India's first Test victory since the retirement of legendary Sachin Tendulkar, having drawn three and lost two of the five Tests played since the iconic cricketer's retirement in November 2013.
Ironically, when England lost to India at Lord's in 1986, it brought down curtains on David Gower's captaincy, as Mike Gatting was thrust in the hot seat in place of the elegant left-hander.
After England's latest defeat skipper Alastair Cook's head is on the line.
- India's tour of England coverage
Image: Ishant Sharma celebrates after picking his seventh wicket.
Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images
