The 26 year old scooped and swept with impunity during his six and a half-hour masterclass on how to smother spin on turning tracks on the Indian subcontinent.
“I haven’t seen a better exhibition of sweeping and reverse sweeping ever in these conditions against that quality of bowling,” India coach Rahul Dravid said.
Pope’s knock, the only hundred in the match, allowed England to set India a tricky target of 231 before Hartley took over.
The left arm spinner, who had bled 131 runs in his 25 overs in the first innings of his debut test, claimed 7-62 in his second to seal what captain Ben Stokes called the greatest victory under his leadership.
After India’s frontline batters let down the hosts, Ravichandran Ashwin and Srikar Bharat forged a half century stand before their lower order caved in and they were all out for 202.
With a result in sight, the session had been extended by half an hour and, fittingly, Hartley sealed England’s win when India number 11 Mohammed Siraj charged out only to be stumped.
England’s victory came hours after West Indies had stunned world champions Australia in Brisbane and both contests proved a great advertisement for the long format which has been reeling under the onslaught of franchise cricket.
Stokes has been harping on the need to make test cricket more exciting and the England captain explained why he thought it was their best win under his leadership.
“We’ve had some incredible victories but considering where we are and who we playing against, the position we found ourselves going into our second innings… it’s a big reason as to why I feel this is our best victory since I’ve been captain.”
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