India accomplished one of the dramatic Test match victories ever seen on British soil, squaring the series with a surprising six-run victory after Chris Woakes attempted to hold England over the road with a dislocated shoulder.
England arrived on the ultimate day of a classic Test summer needing 35 runs to finish a remarkable chase of 374 but were blown away on a morning of unbearable tension and true sporting drama.
They lost 4 for 28 as Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson succumbed to searing pressure on the Oval.
Woakes, who is anticipated to be out for several months with the injury he sustained in the sector on Friday, answered his country’s call by coming out at number 11 to try to finish the job.
Holding the bat in hand, together with his left arm bundled up in a sling under his sweater, he joined the fray with 17 runs still needed and was grimacing in pain throughout his temporary stay.
In the long run he didn’t face a ball as Mohammed Siraj clean bowled Atkinson to secure a sensational result and a 2-2 series draw.
Morning Drama
The drama unfolded across 57 unforgettable minutes that tested the courage, character and cricketing will of each side to the limit.
Had Woakes played his part in edging England to their goal, batting left-handed and against all medical good sense, it will have gone down within the pantheon of great moments at this famous ground. Because it was it a near miss.
It was also a fitting conclusion to see the inaugural Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy shared between two teams who’ve pushed one another to the physical and psychological depths over the course of seven gripping weeks.
Ben Stokes’ team may not travel for this winter’s Ashes as favourites but they may go having been pushed all the best way in a five-match marathon that has challenged them like never before. Even so, they may reflect with regret on squandering a winning position of 301 for 3 on the third afternoon, with Joe Root and Harry Brook each sitting pretty on centuries.
Before bad light and rain halted play on Sunday, England’s scoring had ground to a whole halt with the ball zipping around merrily and beating the bat at will.
Start of the day
The rollercoaster continued to throw up surprises on Monday as Overton hit the primary two balls to the boundary.
Prasidh Krishna’s first ball was short but a full-blooded pull shot still got here as a surprise given the precarious nature of the situation. The second was a win for the bowler, jagging into the within edge and skimming past leg stump, however the result was the identical.
Having shaved the goal all the way down to 27, the battle switched to Siraj versus Smith. This time it was India who landed a blow, Smith’s feet in cement as he wafted outside off to his first two balls then nicked the third.
There was a temporary delay because the umpires checked the dismissal but it surely was a clean nick and protected catch from Dhruv Jurel, sparking riotous celebrations amongst the massive contingent of away fans.
The strain was almost unbearable as Atkinson arrived in the center and got here inside a few inches of a golden duck. It was a horrible welcome delivery from Siraj, who was convinced the ball was carrying to KL Rahul at second slip. In apparent slow motion, it hit the turf agonisingly in front of his outstretched hands.
High Risk Batting
England’s insistence of playing at the whole lot continued, a high-risk response that brought several more fresh-air shots and near misses in addition to seven runs before the following gut punch.
It was Siraj again, ducking one in and pounding the front pad. An ear-splitting appeal seemed to be falling on deaf ears but umpire Kumar Dharmasena waited an age before slowing raising his finger.
Overton had already charged through to the non-striker’s end searching for a leg bye and signalled for DRS as he ran through the crease line.
Ball-tracking showed it clipping leg stump on umpire’s call, ushering in one other explosive response within the stands because the 20 remaining runs began to feel like five times as many.
They eked out three more as Atkinson attempted to guard Tongue from the strike but he was soon exposed, Krishna railing a full ball through his defences to scatter the stumps.
Chris Woakes
That meant just one thing: Woakes would wish to reply the decision. He got here down the steps to a rousing reception, received a pat on the back from Rahul, and commenced his mission not possible.
Atkinson decided playing for time was not an option and made an audacious move, swinging for the fences at Siraj and smashing him high and handsome towards long-off. It carried to Akash Deep but was travelling furiously and he fumbled it for a six.
The sport of cat and mouse now began. Siraj tossed the last ball of the over wide within the channel, Atkinson missed but set off immediately anyway. Jurel missed an underarm run-out to win the match as Woakes scrambled through in serious pain, leaving 10 to win.
Atkinson knew he needed to get things done quickly, but it surely was Siraj’s story to complete as he rattled the stumps to finish a five-for.
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