Published: Aug 15, 2023, 10:55 AM (IST)
Edited: Aug 15, 2023, 11:07 AM (IST)
IN A HISTORIC event, four years after the country’s independence, India registered their first win in Test cricket. Down 1-0 in the five-match series, a determined India made a resounding comeback to beat England in the fifth test to draw the series at the Madras Cricket Club in Chennai.
The Indian team was not short on star power. With Lala Amarnath, Vinoo Mankad, Vijay Hazare, Mushtaq Ali, Pankaj Roy and CD Gopinath, the team had enough quality to take down the best oppositions.
Batting first, the English were blown away by a stunning spell by Vinoo Mankad who claimed eight wickets to bowl out England for a score of 266. Dick Spooner fought hard and scored 66 runs for the visitors and along with Jack Robertson (77) tried to revive the innings but Mankad was just too hot to handle.
In reply, Pankaj Roy played a magnificent innings of 111 while Polly Umrigar made 130 to take India to a huge score of 457/9 in the first innings, taking a lead of 193 runs. India captain Vijay Hazare declared just before stumps on Day 4, giving England a short nightmare ahead of the end of day’s play. England survived without losing a wicket but did not have many answers to India’s lethal attack on the final day.
Vinoo Mankad once again wreaked havoc and claimed four wickets. He got good company in Ghulam Ahmed, who bowled a spell of 4-77 to help India bowl out England for a mere 183, taking India to a win by an inning and 8 runs.
