Needing 41 runs to win the match after dismissing India for 247 in the second innings, the visitors had a few jitters losing three early wickets but cruised home with Ian Bell scoring a run-a-ball 28. [break]
Captain Alastair Cook (1), Jonathan Trott (3) and Kevin Pietersen (0) were English batsmen out. Opener Nick Compton made nine not out.
Resuming at 239 for nine, India were bundle out for 247 to set England a target of 41, with no 11 Pragyan Ojha bowled out by James Anderson and R Ashwin getting stuck with unbeaten 91 at the other end.
England had strongly replied with 523 to India’s 316 in their first innings. With another resounding victory, England kept themselves on course for their first series win on Indian soil in 28 years since David Gower—led team won a series 2-11 in the 1984-85 series.
It was India´s first loss at the Eden Gardens in more than a decade as the last time thay had lost at the historic venue to Pakistan in the Asian Test Championship on February 16, 1999.
After the humiliating 10-wicket defeat in Mumbai, the hosts once again seemed clueless in their own den with neither batting nor bowling clicking, raising questions on whether some players need to be changed.
The two teams will now travel to Nagpur for the fourth and final cricket Test beginning December 13. England just need a draw to record a historic series triumph while India have no option but to win to level the series and save the blushes of a series defeat in their own den.
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