Relive India’s First Win In Cricket After Independence: How Vinoo Mankad Made England Go Down On Knees In Chennai

India beat England by an innings and 8 runs in a historic Test in Chennai on February 10, 1952, to pick up their first win in cricket after independence.

IN A HISTORIC event, four years after the country’s independence, India registered their first win in Test cricket. Down 1-0 in the five-match series, a determined India made a resounding comeback to beat England in the fifth test to draw the series at the Madras Cricket Club in Chennai.

The Indian team was not short on star power. With Lala Amarnath, Vinoo Mankad, Vijay Hazare, Mushtaq Ali, Pankaj Roy and CD Gopinath, the team had enough quality to take down the best oppositions.

Vinoo Mankad Special Blow Away England

"The finest Indian left-arm spinner ever."

The great Vinoo Mankad is inducted into the #ICCHallOfFame 2021 👏 pic.twitter.com/djFdwu8GS9

— ICC (@ICC) June 13, 2021

Batting first, the English were blown away by a stunning spell by Vinoo Mankad who claimed eight wickets to bowl out England for a score of 266. Dick Spooner fought hard and scored 66 runs for the visitors and along with Jack Robertson (77) tried to revive the innings but Mankad was just too hot to handle.

India’s Strong Response To England’s Total

In reply, Pankaj Roy played a magnificent innings of 111 while Polly Umrigar made 130 to take India to a huge score of 457/9 in the first innings, taking a lead of 193 runs. India captain Vijay Hazare declared just before stumps on Day 4, giving England a short nightmare ahead of the end of day’s play. England survived without losing a wicket but did not have many answers to India’s lethal attack on the final day.

Indian Cricket Team Creates History

Vinoo Mankad once again wreaked havoc and claimed four wickets. He got good company in Ghulam Ahmed, who bowled a spell of 4-77 to help India bowl out England for a mere 183, taking India to a win by an inning and 8 runs.

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