India crush England by eight wickets to take 2-0 series lead

India completed a comprehensive victory over England by eight wickets to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the five match series in the third Test in Mohali. Despite an injured Haseeb Hameed scoring his second international half century, the tourists once again flattered to decisive with the bat as India knocked off the 103 runs required to stretch their unbeaten home run to 17 matches.

Parthiv Patel hit an unbeaten 67 to guide the home side to victory inside 21 overs, to leave them two up with two matches still to play, in Mumbai and Chennai. England's plight has been accentuated by the loss of Hameed for the remainder of the tour to a finger injury, though he provided another example of his ability with the bat during a second innings which was otherwise littered with lacklustre displays.

Once Gareth Batty [0] was dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja from the second ball of the day the writing was very much on the wall for England. Jos Buttler [18] and Chris Woakes [30] provided some resistance but neither were able to stick with Hameed [59 not out], who produced an innings of maturity to extend the lead above 100. But the run-out of James Anderson [5] curtailed the effort and set up an easy India run chase, despite a wicket each for Woakes and Adil Rashid.

"It was a good toss to win," said captain Alastair Cook. "But if you get bowled out for 280 you won't win games. You need to get 400 on this pitch at least. We knew from the last time we beat them after getting them out for 300. Stokes is a brilliant player. He gives balance to the team. He is only going to get better and better. Haseeb showing character was a positive. It has been a frustrating four days. Credit to India, they outplayed us. Unfortunately Haseeb has to go home. Showed a lot of character to come out and bat."

Coupled with having to show more consistency in the middle order, England must also identify another opening partner for Cook, with Hameed having been ruled out of the tour through injury. Previously dropped pair Ben Duckett or Gary Ballance could be recalled, while the likes of Durham's Keaton Jennings or Nick Gubbins from Middlesex may be drafted in from the Lions squad which is currently touring the United Arab Emirates.