India have won the fifth Test against England at The Oval by six runs to earn a 2-2 draw in the series.
Mohammed Siraj spearheaded India’s charge on a dramatic final day, claiming the final wicket of Gus Atkinson to deny England a 3-1 series win.
Defeat was hard on Atkinson, who had manufactured the strike manfully to try to keep Chris Woakes, who came to the crease with his arm in a sling after dislocating his shoulder in the match, away from the India attack.
Siraj mops up Smith and Overton
England started the day requiring another 35 runs with four wickets in hand but soon fond themselves in trouble as the brilliant Siraj took centre stage.
The paceman removed the dangerous Jamie Smith, caught behind for two after wafting at a ball outside off stump.
He then snared Jamie Overton (nine) in his next over, the all-rounder dismissed leg before wicket on umpire’s call after Kumar Dharmasena raised his finger with replays showing the ball was just clipping the leg stump.
Josh Tongue hung around for 12 balls before being comprehensively bowled by a yorker from Prasidh Krishna.
Heroic Woakes does his bit
That brought Woakes to the crease to huge cheers from the home fans.
And it swiftly became a game of cat and mouse with Atkinson having to try to knock off the remaining runs while also protecting his injured team-mate.
He did a fine job, even hammering Siraj over the boundary for a six, to put England within seven of the win and six of the tie that would have clinched the series.
Siraj was not done, however, and a searing full-length delivery to start the 86th over proved too good for Atkinson, who departed for 17 and promoted wild scenes of celebration from India’s players.
Siraj the hero for India
Siraj finished with five for 104 after another gutsy effort.
He said:”My only plan was to bowl good areas. Didn’t matter if I took wickets or went for runs. I always believe that I can win the game from any point.”
Experienced opener KL Rahul added to Sky Sports: “The win means absolutely everything. I’ve played cricket for years. Won Champions Trophy, seen the team lift the World Cup but nothing compares to that. “[There are] so many questions about whether Test cricket stays or not, but both answered that question here with the way we’ve played. We weren’t given a chance but we’ve fought in every game and get 2-2, might be a draw, but for Indian Test cricket, this will rank right at the top and this is where change begins.
“Not having Rohit [Sharma], Virat [Kohli] and [Ravi] Ashwin hit me two weeks in. Everyone was coming to me to ask about English conditions. Then it hit me I’ve stepped into a different role now.
“[Captain Shubman] Gill’s been phenomenal, led from the front. He’s formed connections, he’s done that. Tactically good, changes have got us wickets. He’ll go on to become a good Test captain.“
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2025-08-04 13:03:28
