With a 31 run overnight lead, India were in need of a miracle. They showed little desire to keep opener Gautam Gambhir on strike and were duly punished in the second over of the day after Harbhajan Singh gloved Swann to Jonathan Trott at first slip.
Zaheer Khan top edged a slog sweep from Panesar to Matt Prior before Swann trapped Gambhir lbw to finish India’s innings on a sweet note.
Left 57 to chase Alastair Cook and Nick Compton confidently knocked off the runs before lunch.
Compton smashed four fours and a six on his way to a 30 run not out innings off just 28 balls.
England have showed an admirable turnaround frpom the first test in which both the top order batsman and bowling attack misfired.
Monty Panesar’s man of the match performance highlighted how absurd the decision to leave him out of the first test was, with all but one of India’s wickets falling to spin.
Kevin Pietersen’s stunning innings showed his indispensable value to England; with the ability to sway the momentum in a match.
Much will be made in the Indian media of the ineffectiveness of their spin attack. Questions will undoubtably be asked of Indian captain MS Dhoni who had asked for a spinning track from day one.
It all leaves the series beautifully poised going into the third test at Kolkata on December 5.
