England on the brink of defeat to India in third Test after being bowled out for 81

Axar Patel of India celebrates the wicket of Jonny Bairstow (BCCI)
Axar Patel of India celebrates the wicket of Jonny Bairstow (BCCI)

England are on the brink of defeat in the third Test against India after being skittled for 81 to set the hosts a target of 49 for victory and a 2-1 series lead.

Joe Root’s men collapsed for the second time in the game in Ahmedabad, with spin bowlers Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel causing havoc once again.

It was England’s lowest ever score against India in a Test match, with Ashwin taking four wickets and Patel grabbing five in the innings.

The second innings started in terrible fashion for the tourists, with ducks for Zak Crawley and Jonny Bairstow, his second of the match, off the bowling of the sensational Patel, who took 11 wickets in the match.

Washington Sundar finished off the forgettable second innings, where Ben Stokes top scored with 25.

Rishabh Pant takes the catch to dismiss Dom SibleyBCCI
Rishabh Pant takes the catch to dismiss Dom SibleyBCCI

Sundar removed James Anderson to leave Virat Kohli’s side with a straight forward task to take the lead in the four-match series with one Test remaining.

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India were put in to bat two overs before the end of the session and negotiated them without a scare, ending it on 11 without loss, with Shubman Gill unbeaten on one and Rohit Sharma unbeaten on six, with 38 runs left to clinch a second straight win.