England's transformation from the bedraggled mob that trudged from the field after the first test to the swashbuckling XI that won the second test by 10 wickets may not signify a complete change in fortunes for the touring team but certainly represents a dramatic step forward.
England
ruthlessly completed a memorable 10-wicket victory over India in the second
Test in Mumbai to level the four-match series. Monty
Panesar and Graeme Swann shared the last three India second-innings wickets in
45 minutes on the fourth morning to bowl the hosts out for 142.
England openers Alastair Cook and Nick Compton then knocked off a target
of 57 with ease before lunch.
It
is only England's second Test win in India in 14 matches since 1985.
England's
spectacular all-round performance was the perfect antidote to their meek
showing in the first Test and ignites the series with
two matches to play.
The
recalled Panesar made a mockery of the decision to leave him out in Ahmedabad
with a Test-best 11 wickets in the match as 19 of the 20 India wickets fell to
spin, while Cook and Kevin Pietersen scored brilliant hundreds to secure a
crucial first-innings lead of 86.
Man
of the match Pietersen's assault on the India bowling on his way to 186 on
Sunday afternoon was particularly important, demoralising the hosts and filling
England with confidence.
Panesar
and Swann, who outbowled India's three spinners throughout, followed up with
seven wickets on the third evening to ensure it was always likely to be a
matter of when, rather than if, England would finish the job on Monday.
Leading
by 31 with only three wickets in hand, India took 10 off the first over of the
day but Harbhajan Singh fell in the next when he gloved Swann to Jonathan Trott
at slip.
Zaheer
Khan top-edged a slog-sweep and was easily taken by Matt Prior to give Panesar
figures of 6-81, before opener Gautam Gambhir was trapped lbw for 65 by Swann,
who finished with 4-43 - and 8-113 in the match.
Fears
of a scenario reminiscent of Abu Dhabi
in January when England collapsed to 72 all out chasing a
modest 145 to beat Pakistan were quickly dispelled as Cook and Compton set
about their
task with relish.
Compton,
playing his second Test, cracked four fours and a six in making 30 not out from
28 balls and Cook posted an unbeaten 18 as the tourists cantered home.
England's
first win in six Tests leaves the series tantalisingly poised going into the
third match in Kolkata starting on 5 December, with the finale in Nagpur to
follow.
England
have not won a series in India since David Gower's side came from behind to seal
a 2-1 triumph in 1985.
