Weather sends gripping Oval test into final day
Harry Brook and Joe Root shared a superb fourth-wicket partnership of 195 to put England on the brink of completing a record run chase that would have given them a 3-1 series win.
With India on the ropes, however, and England needing only another 73 runs, Brook played a wild stroke and skied a catch to depart for 111.
That gave India a chink of hope and they certainly made the most of it.
Jacob Bethell also fell to a rash shot for five and Root, having completed a masterful 39th test century, nicked a catch to wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel off Prasidh Krishna to spark wild Indian celebrations.
In mounting tension, Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton struggled to get bat on ball, surviving several frenzied appeals before the umpires decided it was too dark to continue.
The players left the field and shortly afterwards a heavy rain shower made conditions unplayable, depriving the crowd of a tense finale to a day of unremitting drama.
"It is quite a fitting end for how the rest of the series has gone. It has ebbed and flowed all of the way through and this test is exactly the same," Root told the BBC.
"We are in for a cracker, we are in a good position. We have another heavy roller available. Things might happen quicker with the new ball, it might be easier to score."
GRIPPING SERIES
England will resume on 339-6 on Monday, with Chris Woakes unlikely to bat due to a broken shoulder, and India still in with a chance of a victory that would earn them a share of a gripping five-match series.
India had the better of the morning session after England resumed on 50-1, dismissing Ben Duckett for 54 and Ollie Pope for 27 to leave the hosts wobbling on 106-3.
Brook, on 19, was lucky to survive when Mohammed Siraj caught him in the deep before stepping back on to the boundary cushion.
The prolific right-hander made him pay a heavy price for the error, striking two sixes and 12 fours all round the ground to reach his 10th test century off 91 balls.
Root provided the perfect foil, continuing his consistent form throughout the series, as the Indian bowlers struggled to get much movement under grey skies.
Once past three figures, Brook launched an all-out attack, hitting Akash Deep for two fours in an over before attempting a third and Siraj completed the catch on this occasion.
Brook's bat flew out of his hands as he played the stroke and he had to retrieve it before returning to the pavilion to a standing ovation from the crowd.
He probably believed he had done enough to ensure victory for his team but India had other ideas.
The highest successful run chase at The Oval was England's 263-9 against Australia in 1902. — REUTERS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Siraj stars as India beat England by six runs in fifth-Test thriller
LONDON: Mohammed Siraj was the hero as India beat England by just six runs in a thrilling fifth Test at the Oval on Monday to end a dramatic series level at 2-2. England arrived on the final day of the series needing just 35 runs with four wickets in hand to complete what would have been a remarkable chase of 374. But they were blown away on a morning of unbearable tension, with Siraj taking three wickets for nine runs to finish with innings figures of 5-104. The dramatic ending, India's narrowest Test win in terms of runs, was a fitting finale to an enthralling series that started on June 20. "It just shows that both teams came with their 'A' game and I am very happy to get over the line in this one," India captain Shubman Gill told Sky Sports. "When you have got bowlers bowling a spell like Siraj, captaincy seems easy." The series was also a personal triumph for Gill, who scored 754 runs, including four hundreds. England, cruising to victory on Sunday when they were 301-3, remained favourites to win when play started under gloomy skies on Monday. Jamie Overton hit the first two balls of the day off Prasidh Krishna for four to immediately ease the pressure but the home side were soon reduced to 354-8 after Siraj struck twice to remove Jamie Smith and Overton. Josh Tongue was next to go and when injured last man Chris Woakes came in to bat with his left arm strapped up due to an injured shoulder, England still needed 17 more runs for victory. Gus Atkinson hit a six off Siraj before England got the target down to single figures. But the paceman clean bowled Atkinson (17) to spark delirious scenes among the India team and their supporters. The series started with England successfully chasing down a target of 371 to win at Headingley. India won the second Test at Edgbaston by a huge margin of 336 runs before England bounced back to win at Lord's, taking a 2-1 series lead. England's time-wasting tactics during the third Test were the first of several flashpoints in an increasingly fiery series. In a drawn fourth Test at Old Trafford, memorable for an astonishing Indian rearguard action, England were angered by the tourists' refusal to agree a draw at the first opportunity. Both sides were hampered by fitness issues in the Oval decider, with England missing inspirational captain Ben Stokes because of a shoulder injury. "I'm bitterly disappointed we couldn't get over the line here, but I'm incredibly proud of my team and everything they've thrown into it," said Stokes. India were without Jasprit Bumrah after deciding to stick to their decision to only play the world's top-ranked Test bowler in three games of the series. But the lion-hearted Siraj, who featured in every match, seized his moment, ending the series as the leading bowler on either side with 23 wickets at 32.43. "I've always had great respect and admiration for Mohammed Siraj as a competitor," said Stokes after the bowler was named player of the match following an overall return of 9-190. "He just keeps coming and coming and coming. You know he's going to be in the fight with you." Siraj, 31, struck with his third ball on Monday, with a nervous Smith caught behind to leave England 347-7. Overton fell next, lbw for nine to Siraj. Tailender Tongue was bowled by Krishna to leave India on the brink of victory before Siraj, appropriately, wrapped up the match. "From day one to here, everyone fought so hard so we are very happy," Siraj said. I just wanted to make sure I hit the right areas, the wickets would fall, and anything else would be a bonus. "When I woke up I believed I could do it." England will be bitterly disappointed not to have got over the line after Harry Brook (111) and Joe Root (105) took the game by the scruff of the neck on Sunday.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Cricket-India's Gill celebrates first series as captain with dramatic win
Cricket - International Test Match Series - Fifth Test - England v India - Kia Oval, London, Britain - August 4, 2025 India's Shubman Gill poses after winning the match to draw the test series Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs LONDON (Reuters) -Shubman Gill celebrated his first series as India captain by leading his team to a dramatic victory in the fifth test against England at The Oval on Monday to share a series 2-2 in which the result has been in doubt until the final day of each match. "There are moments like this when you feel the journey is worth it," Gill said at the post-match press conference. "There have been a lot of highs and lows. That's kind of expected, especially with sport. Obviously, every time you go in to bat you want to score a century but that's not how the game of life works. "You should be able to navigate through the high and lows of life. I wanted to stay balanced. I'm still learning but so far so good." Gill, 25, was appointed captain in May following the retirement of two great Indian batsmen and leaders in Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has also quit test cricket while the world's premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was rested for two tests in this series, including the Oval match. Gill has responded magnificently with the bat, scoring four centuries and finishing with an average of 75.40 in his first seven weeks as captain, the second-highest aggregate as a skipper behind Australia's Don Bradman. The final test ended when Gill's outstanding pace bowler Mohammad Siraj, who bowled with undiminished vigour throughout the match, yorked Gus Atkinson to give his team victory by six runs. "What happened this morning summarised what this team is all about," Gill said. "This team believes if there is some kind of opening we can get through that opening." He noted that the dismissals of Yorkshire pair Harry Brook and then Joe Root on Sunday evening had been that opening. "Seventy runs on day four, even 50 runs they would be under pressure," Gill said. Gill added that his four hundreds in the series had carried a different significance. "Each of them has a story and each of them means a lot to me," he said. Siraj who finished with five for 104, said his plan had been to hit a consistent length and build. 'Everything from there was a bonus,' he added. (Reportig by John Mehaffey; Editing by Ken Ferris)
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Athletics-Bednarek labels Lyles 'unsportsmanlike' after post-200m scuffle
FILE PHOTO: Aug 3, 2025; Eugene, OR, USA; Noah Lyles (left) defeats Kenny Bednarek to win the 200m, 19.63 to 19.67, during the USATF Championships at Hayward Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images/File Photo (Reuters) -American sprinter Kenny Bednarek labelled Noah Lyles "unsportsmanlike" after their heated 200 metres showdown at the USA Track & Field Championships almost led to blows on Sunday. Lyles, the three-times world champion in the event, stormed past Bednarek to win in a world leading 19.63 seconds, turning his head to stare down Bednarek as they crossed the line. Bednarek shoved Lyles in the back before the two exchanged what looked like heated words. "Noah's going to be Noah. If he wants to stare me down, that's fine," Bednarek told reporters. "The summary is, don't do that to me. I don't do any of that stuff. It's not good character right there. That's pretty much it. At the end of the day, he won the race. I've got to give him props. He was the better man today. "What he said didn't matter, it's just what he did," Bednarek added. "Unsportsmanlike (expletive), and I don't deal with that. It's a respect factor. He's fresh. Last time we lined it up, I beat him, that's all I can say. Next time we line up, I'm going to win. That's all that matters." Sunday's final set the stage for what is sure to be a fiery rematch when the two race again at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Both have also qualified in the 100m, with Lyles also the reigning world champion in that event. After Bednarek's shove, Lyles turned around and raised his arms to his U.S. rival and bounced up and down like a fighter. Their anger spilled into their trackside interview with NBC. "I tell ya, if you've got a problem, I expect a call," Bednarek said. Lyles replied: "You know what, you're right. You´re right. Let´s talk after this." When asked later about the scuffle, Lyles said: "On coach's orders, no comment." (Reporting by Lori Ewing; Editing by Ken Ferris)
