England make rapid progress after Gus Atkinson ends India's innings
England bowled the tourists out for 224, taking the final four wickets for six runs as Atkinson wrapped up figures of five for 33 to complete an outstanding return to the side.
Zak Crawley's unbeaten 52 and a livewire 43 from Ben Duckett ensured a dominant first session at the Kia Oval as England took lunch on 109 for one.
India looked badly rattled by the sheer pace of the hosts' scoring, which sat at more than seven an over when Crawley and Duckett were together, with England already well positioned to build a big lead.
They wiped out the remainder of the Indian innings in quick time after play resumed on 204 for six, with the dominoes falling quickly once Josh Tongue removed Karun Nair for 57.
After blowing hot and cold on day one the Nottinghamshire quick was trusted with the first over and continued to produce a mixed bag. Two of his first balls disappeared to the boundary and he sent four byes down leg.
But he also has a habit of producing magic deliveries and mustered another, beating Nair with one that clocked in at 91mph and had him plumb lbw.
From there it was over to Atkinson, who crushed the tail in ruthless fashion. Washington Sundar was bounced out, taking on a bumper and feeding a catch to Jamie Overton in the deep, Mohammed Siraj lost his off stump and Prasidh Krishna nicked off for a duck.
If the clatter of wickets gave England's openers the jitters it was impossible to tell, with Crawley instantly on the offensive as he slapped three of his first nine balls for four. Duckett overcame a couple of early scares, a loud lbw shout shown to be going over and a possible catch landing safe as the fielders at gully and point left it for each other.
But his response was emphatic, reversing his hands and launching Akash Deep for six over the slips before hitting the ropes three more times in the seamer's next visit. The score raced beyond 50 in the sixth over as Duckett ramped Siraj for six more.
The runs kept flowing as the stand reached 92 in 12 overs but Duckett eventually paid the price for his leftfield strokeplay. Aiming another pre-meditated reverse scoop at Deep, he edged through to the keeper and offered up the simplest of catches.
The bowler grinned as he draped an arm over the departing Duckett, who did well not to react to the apparent provocation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Powys County Times
17 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Harry Brook century before dramatic dismissal takes England in sight of win
Harry Brook hit a potentially series-winning century before throwing away his bat and his wicket to leave Joe Root in charge of finishing off another remarkable chase in the fifth Test against India. Facing a towering target of 374, the Yorkshire pair came together under pressure on 106 for three and produced a staggeringly dominant partnership that carried them to 317 for four at tea. A demoralised India were on the verge of throwing in the towel when Brook swung so hard looking for a third successive boundary off Akash Deep that he sent his bat spiralling in the air as a simple catch looped to mid-off. Akash Deep breaks the partnership at last! What a knock from Harry Brook, 111 from 98 deliveries 👏 — Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 3, 2025 He departed for 111 but Root was looking imperious as he reached the break on 98 not out alongside Jacob Bethell. Another 57 runs will seal a 3-1 home win and ensure the newly-minted Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy heads to Lord's. Mohammed Siraj botched a chance to change the course of the match when Brook skied a catch to fine-leg with just 19 to his name but, although he held the chance, the seamer stepped on the boundary then carried the ball over for six. England fans celebrated deliriously as a stunned Siraj realised what he had done, while Brook never looked back. He completed his 10th Test hundred in just 91 balls, his first in a fourth-innings pursuit, and hit the lion's share in a stand of 195. Should the hosts get over the line it will complete a hat-trick of stunning pursuits against India in the past three years, following their record 378 for three at Edgbaston in 2022 and 373 for five at Headingley in the first match of this series. They would also set a massive new record chase at Surrey's home, smashing the previous best of 263 set in 1902. Siraj had snatched the momentum with the last act on Saturday evening, bowling Zak Crawley with a clinical yorker, India made a promising start by removing Ben Duckett (54) and Ollie Pope (27) in the morning session. Duckett converted his overnight 34 into a fourth half-century of the series but played and missed repeatedly as he struggled against Siraj, finally nicking Prasidh Krishna to second slip. Krishna, gamely filling the considerable boots of the rested Jasprit Bumrah, came desperately close to pinning Root lbw for just three but saw his huge appeal rejected. Ball-tracking showed it was clipping leg stump, but it would not have been enough to overturn the decision. After an hour's play England had scraped together 37 runs, briefly accelerating as Pope hit three fours in an over off Krishna including one classy on-drive. But that was the end of a cameo rather than the start of something more substantial, Siraj charging in and nailing him in front of the stumps. At 106 for three, India had taken control but the arrival of Brook brought a screeching gear shift. He went for all-out aggression, at one stage lashing 27 runs in eight balls. That included a crunch through midwicket and a lavish six over cover off Deep before his near miss at fine-leg, risking his wicket but picking up six more for his efforts. Siraj looked mortified, with the English fans revelling in his anguish. Krishna, meanwhile, had to quietly shelve the celebrations he had already started to perform. The wheels fell off India's wagon in the afternoon, as a combination of defensive fields, passive captaincy and tired bodies left them short of answers. Brook and Root ruthlessly milked the situation, scoring a steady stream of ones and twos and waiting for the chance to hit fours. A ragged full toss from Ravindra Jadeja and a woeful misfield from Deep, who kicked the ball over the ropes after declining to use his hands, suggested the game was up as the required runs dropped to double figures. Brook looked to speed up after reaching a well-deserved hundred, lashing Deep for back-to-back fours before departing as his bat flew out of his hands. Bethell was lucky to escape a caught-and-bowled on one, Deep slipping as he turned, but Root finished the session in full control as he moved within two of his century.
South Wales Guardian
17 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Harry Brook century before dramatic dismissal takes England in sight of win
Facing a towering target of 374, the Yorkshire pair came together under pressure on 106 for three and produced a staggeringly dominant partnership that carried them to 317 for four at tea. A demoralised India were on the verge of throwing in the towel when Brook swung so hard looking for a third successive boundary off Akash Deep that he sent his bat spiralling in the air as a simple catch looped to mid-off. Akash Deep breaks the partnership at last! What a knock from Harry Brook, 111 from 98 deliveries 👏 — Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 3, 2025 He departed for 111 but Root was looking imperious as he reached the break on 98 not out alongside Jacob Bethell. Another 57 runs will seal a 3-1 home win and ensure the newly-minted Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy heads to Lord's. Mohammed Siraj botched a chance to change the course of the match when Brook skied a catch to fine-leg with just 19 to his name but, although he held the chance, the seamer stepped on the boundary then carried the ball over for six. England fans celebrated deliriously as a stunned Siraj realised what he had done, while Brook never looked back. He completed his 10th Test hundred in just 91 balls, his first in a fourth-innings pursuit, and hit the lion's share in a stand of 195. Should the hosts get over the line it will complete a hat-trick of stunning pursuits against India in the past three years, following their record 378 for three at Edgbaston in 2022 and 373 for five at Headingley in the first match of this series. They would also set a massive new record chase at Surrey's home, smashing the previous best of 263 set in 1902. Siraj had snatched the momentum with the last act on Saturday evening, bowling Zak Crawley with a clinical yorker, India made a promising start by removing Ben Duckett (54) and Ollie Pope (27) in the morning session. Duckett converted his overnight 34 into a fourth half-century of the series but played and missed repeatedly as he struggled against Siraj, finally nicking Prasidh Krishna to second slip. Krishna, gamely filling the considerable boots of the rested Jasprit Bumrah, came desperately close to pinning Root lbw for just three but saw his huge appeal rejected. Ball-tracking showed it was clipping leg stump, but it would not have been enough to overturn the decision. After an hour's play England had scraped together 37 runs, briefly accelerating as Pope hit three fours in an over off Krishna including one classy on-drive. But that was the end of a cameo rather than the start of something more substantial, Siraj charging in and nailing him in front of the stumps. At 106 for three, India had taken control but the arrival of Brook brought a screeching gear shift. He went for all-out aggression, at one stage lashing 27 runs in eight balls. That included a crunch through midwicket and a lavish six over cover off Deep before his near miss at fine-leg, risking his wicket but picking up six more for his efforts. Siraj looked mortified, with the English fans revelling in his anguish. Krishna, meanwhile, had to quietly shelve the celebrations he had already started to perform. The wheels fell off India's wagon in the afternoon, as a combination of defensive fields, passive captaincy and tired bodies left them short of answers. Brook and Root ruthlessly milked the situation, scoring a steady stream of ones and twos and waiting for the chance to hit fours. A ragged full toss from Ravindra Jadeja and a woeful misfield from Deep, who kicked the ball over the ropes after declining to use his hands, suggested the game was up as the required runs dropped to double figures. Brook looked to speed up after reaching a well-deserved hundred, lashing Deep for back-to-back fours before departing as his bat flew out of his hands. Bethell was lucky to escape a caught-and-bowled on one, Deep slipping as he turned, but Root finished the session in full control as he moved within two of his century.
Glasgow Times
17 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Harry Brook century before dramatic dismissal takes England in sight of win
Facing a towering target of 374, the Yorkshire pair came together under pressure on 106 for three and produced a staggeringly dominant partnership that carried them to 317 for four at tea. A demoralised India were on the verge of throwing in the towel when Brook swung so hard looking for a third successive boundary off Akash Deep that he sent his bat spiralling in the air as a simple catch looped to mid-off. Akash Deep breaks the partnership at last! What a knock from Harry Brook, 111 from 98 deliveries 👏 — Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 3, 2025 He departed for 111 but Root was looking imperious as he reached the break on 98 not out alongside Jacob Bethell. Another 57 runs will seal a 3-1 home win and ensure the newly-minted Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy heads to Lord's. Mohammed Siraj botched a chance to change the course of the match when Brook skied a catch to fine-leg with just 19 to his name but, although he held the chance, the seamer stepped on the boundary then carried the ball over for six. England fans celebrated deliriously as a stunned Siraj realised what he had done, while Brook never looked back. He completed his 10th Test hundred in just 91 balls, his first in a fourth-innings pursuit, and hit the lion's share in a stand of 195. Should the hosts get over the line it will complete a hat-trick of stunning pursuits against India in the past three years, following their record 378 for three at Edgbaston in 2022 and 373 for five at Headingley in the first match of this series. They would also set a massive new record chase at Surrey's home, smashing the previous best of 263 set in 1902. Mohammed Siraj reacts after catching Harry Brook but carrying the ball over the boundary for six (Ben Whitley/PA) Siraj had snatched the momentum with the last act on Saturday evening, bowling Zak Crawley with a clinical yorker, India made a promising start by removing Ben Duckett (54) and Ollie Pope (27) in the morning session. Duckett converted his overnight 34 into a fourth half-century of the series but played and missed repeatedly as he struggled against Siraj, finally nicking Prasidh Krishna to second slip. Krishna, gamely filling the considerable boots of the rested Jasprit Bumrah, came desperately close to pinning Root lbw for just three but saw his huge appeal rejected. Ball-tracking showed it was clipping leg stump, but it would not have been enough to overturn the decision. After an hour's play England had scraped together 37 runs, briefly accelerating as Pope hit three fours in an over off Krishna including one classy on-drive. But that was the end of a cameo rather than the start of something more substantial, Siraj charging in and nailing him in front of the stumps. At 106 for three, India had taken control but the arrival of Brook brought a screeching gear shift. He went for all-out aggression, at one stage lashing 27 runs in eight balls. Harry Brook went out in counter-attacking fashion (Ben Whitley/PA) That included a crunch through midwicket and a lavish six over cover off Deep before his near miss at fine-leg, risking his wicket but picking up six more for his efforts. Siraj looked mortified, with the English fans revelling in his anguish. Krishna, meanwhile, had to quietly shelve the celebrations he had already started to perform. The wheels fell off India's wagon in the afternoon, as a combination of defensive fields, passive captaincy and tired bodies left them short of answers. Brook and Root ruthlessly milked the situation, scoring a steady stream of ones and twos and waiting for the chance to hit fours. A ragged full toss from Ravindra Jadeja and a woeful misfield from Deep, who kicked the ball over the ropes after declining to use his hands, suggested the game was up as the required runs dropped to double figures. Brook looked to speed up after reaching a well-deserved hundred, lashing Deep for back-to-back fours before departing as his bat flew out of his hands. Bethell was lucky to escape a caught-and-bowled on one, Deep slipping as he turned, but Root finished the session in full control as he moved within two of his century.
