London, August 4 — In one of the most thrilling Test finishes in recent memory, Mohammed Siraj delivered a stunning bowling performance on Day 5 of the fifth Test at The Oval, claiming a five-wicket haul to seal a nail-biting 6-run win for India over England and level the series 2-2.
Siraj Delivers a Historic Spell
With England chasing a modest target, Siraj turned the tide with a fiery spell that broke the backbone of the English batting order. He picked up 5 wickets, including the decisive dismissal of Gus Atkinson, who was attempting to go big under pressure but mistimed a shot and was caught, handing Siraj his fifth five-for in Test cricket.
Siraj had already set the tone early in the day by removing Jamie Smith in his very first over, tilting the momentum in India’s favour. From there, the Indian bowlers maintained relentless pressure on England’s lower order.
Prasidh Krishna’s Crucial Blow
Adding to England’s misery, Prasidh Krishna produced a toe-crushing yorker to bowl out Josh Tongue, forcing Chris Woakes to take guard under tense circumstances. Woakes’ presence raised England’s hopes briefly, but the Indian pacers, led by Siraj, were simply too sharp on the day.
England’s Tail Fights, But Falls Short
Gus Atkinson tried to shield Woakes from the strike and looked to score quickly by going for boundaries, but the strategy backfired. His aggressive approach led to his dismissal, effectively ending England’s resistance.
The hosts were eventually bowled out, falling 6 runs short of the target in what was a nail-biter of a finish.
Series Ends in a Drawn 2-2 Result
This victory helped India draw the five-match series 2-2, salvaging pride after being down earlier. It also underlined the team’s resilience and depth in the bowling attack, with Siraj leading from the front.
The match will go down as one of the greatest Test finishes at The Oval, and Siraj’s performance will be etched in memory as a defining moment of his career.
