London: There were no more nails to bite… for the players at the Oval dressing room, thousands at the ground and millions watching on television on Monday.
As the lion-hearted Mohammed Siraj uprooted Gus Atkinson’s stumps an hour into the final day of an epic series, England were bowled out for 367 and India had won by the wafer-thin margin of 6 runs.
In the process, Shubman Gill’s spirited team drew level at 2-2 to share the five-match Test series.
England started Day 5 on 339/6, needing 35 more runs to clinch the series, while India needed to take 4 wickets.
Siraj rose to the occasion like the leader in the pack in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, and took three wickets to destroy English hopes with an absolutely brilliant effort of 5/104. Prasidh Krishna was an able foil, bagging one today to finish with 4/126.
England did everything possible, including sending out one-handed Chris Woakes to bat as the last man, to win the game. That’s how important this match was to the home team.
Despite chasing a never-achieved target of 374 at the Oval, England moved into driver’s seat at 301/3 on Sunday, thanks to centuries by Joe Root and Harry Brook, and their breathtaking 195-run partnership.
But the never-say-die Indians refused to give up, and turned the match on its head. Akash Deep triggered the collapse, dismissing Brook, then Siraj and Krishna took over.
BRIEF SCORES
India first innings: 224.
England first innings: 247
India second innings: 396
England second innings: 367 (Md Siraj 5/104, Prasidh Krishna 4/126).
Result: India won by 6 runs.
Series: India and England finish 2-2.
Man of the Match: Md Siraj (4/86 & 5/104).
Man of the Series: Shubman Gill (754 runs in 5 Tests, average 75.40).
