England crushed India by an innings and 242 runs in the third cricket test at Edgbaston, Birmingham, yesterday, and took an unassailable Three-Nil lead in the four-match series. Resuming the penultimate day's play at the second innings score of 35 for one, India's famed batting line-up fell like a pack of cards yet again. They folded up for a paltry 244 to give the hosts their second consecutive win within four days. Skipper M.S. Dhoni remained not out on 74, while Sachin Tendulkar was run out for 40. The defeat turned out as one of India's worst in overseas tours in recent history. By winning the series, England claimed the number one rank in the ICC Test Championship table for the first time in 32 years. The final scores: India – 224 and 244.