In the final Test at The Oval, India defeated England by an incredible 6-run margin, completing the series in a way that will never be forgotten. After England took the lead on Day 4 via centuries from Joe Root and Harry Brook, the game shifted in favor of India on a nerve-racking, tense morning that saw some outstanding fast bowling.
England needed just 35 runs to start the day, and two boundaries were hit off Prasidh Krishna’s opening two deliveries. Mohammed Siraj, however, changed the course. Initially, he had Jamie Smith behind Dhruv Jurel with a late-moving beauty. Gus Atkinson narrowly missed KL Rahul a ball later. Siraj was not finished. With a delivery that only clipped the leg stump in his subsequent over, he trapped Jamie Overton LBW, which was upheld by the umpire.
Josh Tongue was nearly LBW when Prasidh returned, but the review spared him. But when he dismissed Tongue with a ripper a couple of overs later, there was no doubting him. England needed 11 and was down to their final wicket.
After hurting his right shoulder diving on Day 1, Chris Woakes entered and shocked everyone by hitting left-handed and using just one hand. Atkinson gave Siraj a six in an attempt to shield Woakes, but he was unable to hold out for long. There were tremendous cheers after Siraj bowled him through the fence.
Siraj finished with five wickets, three of which came on the last morning. He remarked, “We just kept believing, ‘This team never backs down.”
India has again shown the heart of a champion.
