India rout England by an innings and 25 runs in 4th Test, claim series 3-1 to qualify for WTC final

India trounced England by an innings and 25 runs on the third day of the fourth Test to complete a 3-1 series victory on Saturday, securing their place in the June's World Test Championships final against New Zealand.

Resuming the day at 294 for seven in reply to England's first innings total of 205, the hosts put on board 365 for a big 160-run lead.

Washington Sundar stayed unbeaten on 96 while Axar Patel scored 43.

For England, the script did not change much as their batsmen yet again found it tough to negotiate the challenge posed by the Indian spinners.

Dan Lawrence (50) though showed the required temperament to counter the spinners. Once their 44-run stand was broken, India did not take long to wrap up the match and the series.

Left-arm spinner Patel (5/48) and Ravichandran Ashwin (5/47) shared all the England wickets between them.

The two team will now play a five-match T20 series, starting March 12 at the same venue.

Earlier at tea, England were tottering at 91 for six in their second innings after India were bowled out for 365 on the third day of the fourth and final Test on Saturday.

Dan Lawrence (19 not out) and Ben Foakes (6 not out) were the two unbeaten batsmen at the crease as England lost six wickets for 85 runs in the post-lunch session.

Indian spin duo of Axar Patel(3/28) and Ravichandran Ashwin (3/38) continued to torment the English batsmen, sharing six wickets between them.

England still trail India by 69 runs with seven sessions of play remaining in the match.

Earlier, Washington Sundar remained unbeaten on 96 as India were bowled out for 365.

Axar Patel (43) and Washington shared 106 runs for the eighth wicket as the hosts added 71 runs in the pre-lunch session. India finished with a lead of 160 runs.

Brief Scores:

India 1st Innings: 365 all out in 114.4 overs. (R Pant 101, W Sundar 96 not out, R Sharma 49; B Stokes 4/89, J Anderson 3/44).

England: 205 and 135 in 54.5 overs. (D Lawrence 50, J Root 30; A Patel 5/47, R Ashwin 5/48).