3rd Test: Indian spinners Axar Patel, R Ashwin wreak havoc in day-night Test in Ahmedabad

India spinner Axar Patel ran through the English line-up, helping India bundle the visitors for a paltry 112 during the opening day of the third Test at Ahmedabad on Wednesday. The young spinner spun a web around the England cricketers as he recorded his second fifer in Tests.

He was ably supported by R Ashwin, and Ishant Sharma. While the Indian spinner took three wickets, the pacer returned with a solitary scalp.

As Axar and Ashwin joined forces to dismantle the visitors, they shared nine wickets between them, which the highest by spinners in one innings in D/N Tests.

The Indian duo surpassed eight wickets by Devendra Bishoo against Pakistan in Dubai in 2016/17.

112 in Ahmedabad is England fourt-lowest Test total. .Their previous were 101 at the Oval (1971), 102 in Mumbai (1979/80) and 102 in Leeds (1986).

Axar’s six wickets is the second-best figures by a spinner in D/N Tests. Devendra Bishoo of the West Indies recorded 8/49 against Pakistan in Dubai 2016/17.

With the pitch and light conditions at the Narendra Modi Stadium expected to cause problems for both team, this was England’s fourth successive time when they were bowled out for less than 200 in first innings.

Zak Crawley top-scored with 53 after England elected to bat first. Captain Joe Root (17) Ben Foakes (12) and Jofra Archer (11) also got into double figures.

The England batting fell apart after fast bowler Ishant Sharma, playing his 100th Test, struck first with the wicket of Dom Sibley for nought in the third over of the day.

The four-match series is level at 1-1.