India were on the cusp of a 1-0 series lead after England’s batsmen buckled under pressure to lose five wickets on the final day of the second Test in Visakhapatnam on Monday.
Chasing 405 for victory, England were 142 for seven at lunch with wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow (23) and Zafar Ansari (0) battling at the crease, with two more sessions of play remaining.
The visitors, who resumed the day on 87 for two, were still 263 runs behind their victory target with India needing three wickets to take the lead in the five-match series after the opening Test ended in a draw.
World number one Test bowler Ravichandran Ashwin provided the first breakthrough of the day by having Ben Duckett caught behind for nought, ending the batsman’s brief, 16-ball stay at the crease.
Moeen Ali (two) did not last long either after the batsman looped up a simple catch to fine leg off leg-spinner Ravindra Jadeja.
Debutant off-spinner Jayant Yadav got the important wicket of Ben Stokes, who top-scored with 70 in England’s first innings, for six.
Root, who was dropped on one by captain Virat Kohli at leg slip off Ashwin, provided some resistance until fast bowler Mohammed Shami had him lbw.
Root, who scored a gritty 25, reviewed the decision but TV replays suggested the ball would have got the leg stump, upholding the onfield call.
The hosts had reclaimed the advantage on the fourth day after Jadeja trapped England skipper Alastair Cook lbw for 54 on what turned out to be the last ball of the day.
Openers Cook and Haseeb Hameed (25) had given England hope of saving the Test with their 75-run opening stand before the Indian spinners struck. (AFP)
