England vs India 3rd Test: Moeen puts India in a spin as England level series

Spinner Moeen Ali claimed six wickets to inspire England to a crushing 266-run win over India on Thursday to level an absorbing series at 1-1 with two matches to play. Spinner Moeen took six for 67, the first five-wicket haul of his test career, and India crumbled to 178 all out in their second innings on the final morning of the match. England took the six wickets they needed to secure a first test win since they beat Australia at Durham last August, ending a dismal run of 10 matches without victory. "It was a bit of a scramble for the souvenir stumps at the end as it was some people's first win and I want them to remember that," England captain Alastair Cook said at the presentation ceremony. "But the senior players stood up as well, the team was fantastic from one to 11. "Moeen Ali's bowling has come on leaps and bounds this summer, he's fronted up to the responsibility, worked really hard and responded well. Getting six wickets to win the game, you couldn't ask for more." Moeen dismissed Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami in the space of 12 balls, before he aptly took the final scalp of Pankaj Singh to complete figures of six for 67. Earlier in the morning, James Anderson, who on Friday faces a hearing into his part in an altercation with Jadeja at Trent Bridge, had got England off to the perfect start by dismissing Rohit Sharma and Mahendra Singh Dhoni. India batsman Ajinkya Rahane played with composure to reach his second half-century of the match, but his unbeaten 52 was in vain as England maintained the dominance they had shown over the first four days. Man-of-the-match Anderson drew Sharma into a faint edge through to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler before dismissing Dhoni in similar fashion with a ball that nipped away from the right-hander. Cook made a crucial bowling change, by introducing Moeen who bowled Jadeja with a full-length delivery before inducing Kumar, who has three half-centuries in the series, to edge on to his pad and the ball looped up to Anderson at gully. Moeen continued to bamboozle the Indian batsmen and he bowled Shami and Singh to wrap up a deserved victory for the hosts. "We'll have to think about if for the next Test as the extra batsman didn't really score anything - a lot will depend on the kind of wicket that's provided but I don't expect it to be different to the wicket here," India captain Dhoni said. "(Fast bowler) Ishant Sharma definitely won't be fit for the fourth test. Pankaj Singh bowled really well, he was the one person bowling the right length and he was unlucky not to get wickets. Whenever I asked him to bowl he gave it everything." The fourth Test begins at Old Trafford, Manchester on Aug. 7. DAY 5, INDIA INNINGS After two boundaries, Pankaj Singh is gone to give Moeen his sixth wicket. India all out for 178 in 66.4 overs. Pankaj Singh b Ali 9 (7b 2x4 0x6) A deserving half century for Rahane. Some thing to cheer for India at this time. Ind 170-9 in 66 overs. Moeen picks up his first five-wicket haul as England need just one more wicket to wrap up the match and level the series. Ind 154-9 in 63 overs. Mohammed Shami b Ali 0 (4b 0x4 0x6) Moeen Ali proving to be the star for England as he strikes again to claim his fourth wicket. Bhuvneshwar Kumar goes for a naught. Ind 152-8 in 60.5 overs. Bhuvneswar Kumar c Anderson b Ali 0 (4b 0x4 0x6) Moeen Ali gets his third wicket to remove Jadeja. Indian in serious trouble here. Ind 152-7 in 60.1 overs. Ravindra Jadeja b Ali 15 (43b 2x4 0x6) Partnership between Rahane and Jadeja reaches 28. It's just a start of a long day they have to endure. Ind 148-6 in 58 overs. Rahane and Jadeja have put brakes for the moment on the fall of wickets. The visitors still need a massive 313 with still a minimum of 78 overs left. Ind 132-6 in 54 overs. Rahane batting on 21 with Jadeja giving him company on 1. A tall task for the pair if they are to save India today. Ind 124-6 in 50 overs. Anderson on a roll here as he sends Dhoni home the similar way. Dhoni chases an away going delivery to offer a simple catch to the 'keeper. Ind 120-6 in 47.2 overs. MS Dhoni c Buttler b Anderson 6 (11b 1x4 0x6) The bowling is getting tough for the Indian batsmen. Rahane is showing a lot of patience and Dhoni needs to carry on the good work he did in the first innings. Ind 114-5 in 46 overs. Looks like Rohit Sharma gets a faint edge as Anderson strikes to give England the early advantage. Ind 112-5 in 43.3 overs. Rohit Sharma c Buttler b Anderson 6 (28b 0x4 0x6) Broad starts off with a maiden on the fifth day. Ind 112-3 in 43 overs It will be a test of patience for Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma as England look to wrap up India at the earliest on the final day. DAY 4 REPORT England batsman Joe Root picked out under-pressure captain Alastair Cook for special praise as England closed in on an emphatic victory in the third Test against India on Wednesday. Cook, who has faced calls to resign the captaincy from former players including Michael V