India's ploy to prepare a spinning track backfired heavilyas a spirited England inflicted a humiliating ten-wicket victory on theclueless hosts in the second cricket Test to level the four-match series 1-1here today.
Resuming at a precarious 117 for seven after conceding avital 86-run first innings lead, the Indians were skittled out for a paltry 142within an hour's play on the fourth morning, leaving the visitors an easytarget of 57 for victory which they achieved without much fuss with more thanfive sessions to spare.
Only Gautam Gambhir (65) provided a semblance of resistancebefore being the last man to be dismissed though television replays indicatedthat he was distinctly unlucky to be ruled out.
Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar was the pick of the Englishbowlers with figures of 22-3-81-6 for a match haul of 11 wickets while GraemeSwann snapped up the remaining four wickets in a fine exhibition of spinbowling.
The two England openers Alastair Cook (18) and Nick Compton(30) overhauled the target in just 9.4 overs to complete the rout in a matchwhich was dominated by the visitors in conditions which were tailor-made forthe home team spinners.
The moment of triumph came through four byes off R Ashwinwhich triggered off scenes of jubilation in the England dressing room with theplayers hugging each other and celebrating a remarkable victory.
It was a pathetic display by the Indians who were thoroughlyoutplayed in their own den. While the spinners were a complete letdown on atrack which suited them, the famed batting line up also left much to be desiredfailing to counter the spin threat of Panesar and Swann.
England, on the other hand, showed remarkable character andresilience to bounce back and square the series 1-1 after suffering anine-wicket drubbing in the first Test in Ahmedabad. The turnaround was largelypossible due to Kevin Pietersen and Cook's centuries in the first innings andthe brilliant bowling efforts of Panesar and Swann.
The two teams will now travel to Kolkata for the third Testwhich begins from December 5.
