ENG vs IND 2018: Victory In Southampton Is England's Most Impressive In This Series, Says Michael Vaughan

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has termed England’s 60-run win over India in the fourth England vs India Test as their best of the series.

It was not one of the most clinical performances from England. But the hosts managed to come out on top in crucial situations which saw them beat India and seal the series. In a game, where fortunes swung from side to side, England were the better of the two teams during pressure situations.

During the first innings, England were 86 for 6 but managed to recover and post 245. In reply, India were 142 for 2 before Moeen Ali’s 5-wicket haul helped England reduce India to 195 for 8.  However, an unbeaten century from Cheteshwar Pujara helped them score 273 and take a slender 27-run lead.

In the second innings, England found themselves 5 down for 122 but their lower order once again made the difference to propel them to 271.

Thus India needed to chase down 245 to level the series. England began their defence in fine fashion as Stuart Broad and James Anderson sent back India’s top-three for just 22 on the board.

But before England could take complete charge of the game, Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane revived India’s hopes with a century stand. However, the hosts restored parity when Moeen Ali dismissed Kohli at the stroke of tea to set up a frantic finish.  Kohli was out for 58 which ended the 101-run stand.

And as soon as Kohli departed, the floodgates opened as India soon found themselves seven down for 153. The seventh wicket all but sealed India’s fate as Moeen Ali dismissed Rahane for 51. Ravichandran Ashwin tried to delay the inevitable for a while but could not fight for long and became the last wicket to fall after scoring 25. India were all out for 184 as England won the game by 60 runs to seal the series.

And Michael Vaughan feels the third victory is the most impressive of this series.

“Of the three victories, this has been the most impressive by England because of the conditions here,” he told BBC’s Test Match Special. “These are the conditions that India play so well in so it’s a fantastic effort by England. Though over a series in English conditions, England are the better side. This match had so many ebbs and flows. It’s really tested the character of this England team. And it should give them a lot of confidence going forward. That’s a really good, characterful performance by this England side.”

Vaughan further said that Moeen Ali was the difference between the two teams. Moeen, after taking 5/65 in India’s first innings, finished with 4/71 on day four. He bagged the Man of the Match award in his first Test since he was dropped in March.

“Moeen Ali completely out-bowled Ravichandran Ashwin,” said Vaughan, who played 82 Tests. “Moeen Ali has a lovely ability to shape the ball away from the right-hander, he bowls a beautiful pace and he just needs to be confident that he can do it. Hopefully it will give him a big confidence boost – England were only defending 245, India needed one more big partnership than they got and Moeen bowled them out. I want to see him show that he can be and will be England’s senior spinner.”

England, meanwhile, now lead the five-match series 3-1. The inconsequential fifth match will get underway from September 7 at The Oval.