India tie England series in one of greatest Test finales
Siraj was India's hero on Monday, dismissing Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton before bowling Gus Atkinson to complete a five-wicket haul at The Oval in London.
After Prasidh Krishna had bowled Josh Tongue for nought, Chris Woakes walked out to bat wearing a sling to protect his dislocated shoulder with 17 runs still needed.
Atkinson hit Siraj for six to give England brief hope and cleverly protected Woakes from the strike, but Siraj produced another brilliant yorker to earn India their narrowest ever Test win.
'With 60-, 70-odd runs to win with seven wickets in hand, you don't get to see many games like this,' India captain Shubman Gill said. 'Very happy to get this over the line, a little bit of luck for us.'
England, 301-3 at one stage, lost their last seven wickets for 66 runs, a collapse prompted by Harry Brook's reckless dismissal after he had made a superb century.
India suddenly had a chink of hope, and they took full advantage, removing Jacob Bethell and Joe Root (105) before bad light and rain ended the fourth day early.
England still needed 35 runs to complete their second highest Test run chase and by far the largest for any team on this ground.
The Oval was full for the final act of a series that fluctuated wildly over seven weeks and under grey skies in an atmosphere of unremitting tension as one of the most dramatic endings to a Test match duly played out.
It was fitting that Siraj was the main man for India because he had stepped over the boundary cushion after dropping Brook on 19 on Sunday, an error that looked likely to cost his team the game.
Woakes was the not-out batsman, having not faced a ball but running bravely in obvious pain.
'I didn't expect him to come out like that, batting with one hand. Kudos to him,' Gill said after his team did a lap of honour.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Jazeera
26 minutes ago
- Al Jazeera
Tendulkar leads praise for India after Test fightback in England
A euphoric India heaped praises on Shubman Gill and his men after they pulled off an edge-of-the-seat thriller at the Oval on Monday to split an all-time classic Test series with England. Odds were stacked against India in their first Test series under Gill, who inherited a team depleted by the retirement of batting stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli – two men who preceded him in that role. As if the gaping holes in their batting order were not bad enough, veteran seamer Mohammed Shami was deemed unfit for the tour, while pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was available only for three of the five Tests as part of his workload management. Gill and his men went on to record memorable victories at Edgbaston and the Oval to secure a 2-2 series draw and assure their legions of fans that the future of Indian cricket was in safe hands. The indefatigable Mohammed Siraj led their lion-hearted bowling effort in the series finale to script a six-run victory amid high drama. Batting great Sachin Tendulkar led tributes to the team and said the quality of cricket on offer was 'absolute goosebumps'. 'Series 2–2, Performance 10/10! SUPERMEN from INDIA! What a win,' the former India captain wrote on X. England needed 35 runs on Monday to secure a 3-1 series win with four wickets in hand, but Siraj struck three times to secure a famous victory for his team. 'In a nail-biting, riveting hour of cricket at England's oldest test match ground, in characteristically cloudy Olde Blighty weather, India pulled off a historic heist,' the Hindustan Times newspaper wrote. An Indian Express headline read 'Miracles Do Happen' and the newspaper explained how Gill had stepped up as captain of a 'gun team'. The Hindu waxed eloquent on the 'Mission accomplished'. 'After 25 days of riveting action, the best was saved for the last as Shubman Gil's men rode Mohammed Siraj's sensational spell to pull off a remarkable victory,' it said. 'It was a litmus test for an Indian team in transition but the young side showed heart and character as it fought back from tough situations to share the honours.'
Qatar Tribune
12 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
India win all-time classic despite Woakes heroics
Agencies London England were denied a record-breaking run chase by an irresistible India, who snatched victory by six runs in one of the most dramatic conclusions in Test cricket history on Monday, reports Chris Woakes came out to bat with his arm in a sling to support Gus Atkinson when England needed 17 to reach their target of 374. Woakes was given a hero's welcome, then stood at the non-striker's end as Atkinson attempted to swipe England to victory. Amid almost unbearable tension at The Oval, Atkinson and Woakes somehow tried to inch England on, surrounded by the deafening din of the febrile Indian support. After Atkinson clobbered Mohammed Siraj for six, Woakes ran a bye to wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, who missed the stumps, in order for Atkinson to pinch the strike. India kept the field back. Prasidh Krishna bowled the next over. Woakes was able to run a two, then another vital single off the final ball to leave Atkinson with the strike. But Atkinson was bowled by the brilliant Siraj, giving India their narrowest victory in terms of runs in a Test. It left one of the greatest series ever played level at 2-2, concluding 25 days of outstanding sporting theatre. At the end of a fractious series, India broke off from the delirious celebrations to commiserate with Woakes, then embarked on a lap of honour, soaking up a historic win with their jubilant fans. If the fourth day of this Test was astonishing for its fluctuations and high emotion, the fifth day provided drama that was barely believable. England's target of 374 represented their second highest successful chase in Tests and the highest ever on this ground. They began Monday on 339-6, 35 adrift. Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton were being given a torrid time on Sunday before the weather ended play early. England's task instantly looked easier on Monday when Overton pulled Krishna's first ball of the day for four and followed by inside-edging the next delivery past his stumps to the fine-leg fence. The runs required were down to 27, then the pendulum swung once more. Smith looked all at sea. He played and missed at his first two balls from Siraj and edged his third. There was a wait to see if Jurel had pouched the catch, but there was no doubt. Atkinson edged the first ball he faced, inches short of KL Rahul at second slip. India's fans, comfortably outnumbering the England support, surrounded the ground with noise. Siraj charged in again. Overton played all around his pad. Umpire Kumar Dharmasena took so long to raise his finger, Overton had completed a run. The England man was so sure the review would save him, he began to mark his guard, only for the replay to show umpire's call for shaving the leg stump. India were delirious. Atkinson was unsure whether to farm the strike or trust Josh Tongue. The sky got darker and floodlights took hold. Tongue was given leg before to Krishna, but the review showed the ball missing leg stump. England still needed 19. England had added two more when Tongue was bowled by Krishna. There was confusion as to whether Woakes would bat, then came the sight of the 36-year-old walking down the dressing-room stairs with his left arm covered by his England sweater. Woakes ultimately never faced a ball, but his bravery will not be forgotten. Atkinson's mighty blow off Siraj was parried over the ropes by Akash Deep and left England with 11 to win. India captain Shubman Gill had the decision over bringing in the field to prevent the single, or to protect the boundary. He chose the latter. Woakes was in obvious pain when he shuffled the bye off the final ball of Siraj's over. Atkinson dug out Krishna for two to long-on, at the beginning of the next over. India kept the field back. England took another single. They needed seven when Siraj set off once more. Atkinson cleared his front leg again, attempting another heave to the leg side, but Siraj's yorker was pinpoint. He ended with 5-104, his effort every bit as heroic as the lion-hearted Woakes. It is a superb win for India, who deserve their 2-2 draw. They played this decisive Test without all of Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah and Nitish Kumar Reddy. This series may well be looked back on as the birth of a new team under Gill, who was prolific with the bat. England were without injured captain Stokes, then had to deal with the injury sustained by Woakes on day one. The home side had a patched up pace attack and first-choice spinner Shoaib Bashir is out with a broken finger. ScorescColor:> India 224 (Nair 57, Atkinson 5-33) & 396 (Jaiswal 118, Tongue 5-125) beat England 247 (Crawley 64, Brook 53, Prasidh 4-62, Siraj 4-84) & 367 (Brook 111, Root 105, Duckett 54, Prasidh 4-126, Siraj 5-104) by six runs. Player of the Match: Mohammed Siraj (India); Harry Brook (England); Player of the Series: Shubman Gill (India).Siraj the star as India draw series 2-2 with epic six-run victory at The Oval
Al Jazeera
21 hours ago
- Al Jazeera
India tie England series in one of greatest Test finales
Mohammed Siraj has been inspired as India have taken the last four wickets in under an hour to bowl England out for 367 and win an astonishing final Test by six runs to draw the series. Siraj was India's hero on Monday, dismissing Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton before bowling Gus Atkinson to complete a five-wicket haul at The Oval in London. After Prasidh Krishna had bowled Josh Tongue for nought, Chris Woakes walked out to bat wearing a sling to protect his dislocated shoulder with 17 runs still needed. Atkinson hit Siraj for six to give England brief hope and cleverly protected Woakes from the strike, but Siraj produced another brilliant yorker to earn India their narrowest ever Test win. 'With 60-, 70-odd runs to win with seven wickets in hand, you don't get to see many games like this,' India captain Shubman Gill said. 'Very happy to get this over the line, a little bit of luck for us.' England, 301-3 at one stage, lost their last seven wickets for 66 runs, a collapse prompted by Harry Brook's reckless dismissal after he had made a superb century. India suddenly had a chink of hope, and they took full advantage, removing Jacob Bethell and Joe Root (105) before bad light and rain ended the fourth day early. England still needed 35 runs to complete their second highest Test run chase and by far the largest for any team on this ground. The Oval was full for the final act of a series that fluctuated wildly over seven weeks and under grey skies in an atmosphere of unremitting tension as one of the most dramatic endings to a Test match duly played out. It was fitting that Siraj was the main man for India because he had stepped over the boundary cushion after dropping Brook on 19 on Sunday, an error that looked likely to cost his team the game. Woakes was the not-out batsman, having not faced a ball but running bravely in obvious pain. 'I didn't expect him to come out like that, batting with one hand. Kudos to him,' Gill said after his team did a lap of honour.
