Jhulan stars in Indian eves' victory

LONDON: Medium-pacer Jhulan Goswami picked her second five-wicket haul of the match to bowl Indian eves to a series-clinching five-wicket victory in the second and last cricket Test against England at the Taunton ground here.

Jhulan finished with a career-best 10-wicket haul after returning figures of 5 for 45 in the second innings. Her match figures of 10 for 78 surpassed her previous best of 6-71.

The resounding victory was especially sweet for the Indians as it helped them avenge their loss in the preceding one-dayers.

After being made to follow on, England were bowled out for 305, leaving India with a victory target of 102 runs, which they achieved losing five wickets.

K V Jain scored 34 while skipper Mithali Raj chipped in with a crucial 22 runs in an action-filled last day's play.

India, who scored 307 in their first innings, had forced the follow on after Jhulan helped them bundle England out for just 99, a deficit of 208 runs.

England were in futher trouble in the second innings when they lost two quick wickets but skipper Charlotte Edwards hit a gritty century and Caroline Atkins made a patient 68 to repair the damage somewhat.

But having smelled blood, the visitors came back with renewed vengeance on the last day and put England on the backfoot.

By lunch yesterday, the writing was on the wall for England as they were six down with a lead of just 54.

Edwards and Atkins both fell early, their crucial third-wicket stand of 178 coming to an end when Amita Sharma trapped Atkins on her overnight score 68. From then on the visitors did not look back.

The match then rested on the shoulders of Edwards, but Goswami did not let slip this opportunity. She got the crucial breakthrough and then went on a rampage, cleaning up Jenny Gunn before trapping Laura Marsh and Isa Guha to complete her five-wicket haul.