The Oval, London, August 4 (Sports Desk)
In a dramatic finale to the India tour of England 2025 and the ICC World Test Championship (Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy), India clinched a heart-stopping 6-run victory on Day 5 of the 5th Test at The Oval, leveling the series at 2-2. England, chasing a daunting 374, fell agonizingly short at 367/9 after Prasidh Krishna’s sensational 4/125, including the crucial dismissals of Harry Brook, Joe Root, and Josh Tongue, turned the match. Despite valiant centuries from Brook (111) and Root (103), and a gritty effort from Gus Atkinson (16)*, India’s bowlers, led by Krishna and Mohammed Siraj, held their nerve. Rain and bad light, which halted Day 4 with England needing 35 runs, gave way to a sunny Day 5, where India’s relentless attack sealed a memorable win, denying England a 3-1 series triumph.
Match Summary
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Venue: The Oval, London
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Series Context: England led 2-1 after a draw in the 4th Test at Old Trafford. India’s victory levels the series at 2-2, sharing the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
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Toss: England won and elected to bowl, leveraging the seam-friendly pitch (8mm grass) and overcast conditions.
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Final Status: India 224 (Nair 57, Atkinson 5/33) and 396 (Jaiswal 118, Akash Deep 66, Jadeja 53, Washington 53, Tongue 5/125); England 247 (Crawley 64, Brook 53, Prasidh 4/62, Siraj 4/86) and 367/9 (Root 103, Brook 111, Prasidh 4/125). India win by 6 runs.
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Overs Bowled: 85.1 overs in England’s second innings
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Run Rate: England 2nd innings 4.31 runs/over
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Sources: ESPNcricinfo, BBC Sport
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England’s Second Innings: A Brave Chase Falls Short
England resumed Day 5 at 339/6 after 76.2 overs, needing 35 runs with four wickets in hand, though Chris Woakes, nursing a shoulder injury, was expected to bat only as a last resort. India’s bowlers, buoyed by a sunny morning and a new ball available after 3.4 overs, attacked with precision.
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Jamie Smith (2 off unspecified balls): Smith, starting the day under pressure, fell early to Ravindra Jadeja, whose spin exploited the pitch’s cracks. Smith edged a turning delivery to Shubman Gill at slip, leaving England at 341/7 and India sensing victory.
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Jamie Overton (0 off unspecified balls): Overton, unable to build on his bowling efforts, was dismissed by Prasidh Krishna, caught at mid-off attempting an ambitious drive. His departure at 357/8 left England reeling.
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Josh Tongue (0 off 12 balls): Tongue, facing a fiery Prasidh, was bowled by a searing 142kph full-length delivery that smashed his pads and dislodged both bails. His dismissal at 357/9, as described by ESPNcricinfo, sparked wild celebrations among India’s players.
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Gus Atkinson (16 off unspecified balls)*: Atkinson’s gritty unbeaten 16, including a bunted single off a near-yorker from Siraj, kept England’s hopes alive. With Woakes barely able to bat, Atkinson’s resistance alongside Woakes took England to within 10 runs, but Siraj’s relentless accuracy ended the dream.
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Chris Woakes (0 off unspecified balls)*: Despite a shoulder dislocation, Woakes bravely walked out, his left arm tucked inside his jumper and right arm in a sling. Managing a bye and a single through immense pain, as noted by ESPNcricinfo, he couldn’t steer England to victory, grimacing as Siraj’s leg-stump yorker narrowly missed.
India’s Bowling Heroics:
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Prasidh Krishna (4/125): Krishna was the architect of India’s victory, claiming Brook, Root, Bethell, and Tongue. His evening strikes on Day 4 and morning breakthroughs on Day 5, including a pinpoint yorker to Tongue, were decisive. His fist-pumping celebration after Tongue’s dismissal electrified the crowd.
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Mohammed Siraj: Siraj’s relentless pace, including a near-yorker that Atkinson missed, kept England under pressure. His 4/86 in the first innings and fiery spells on Day 5, including hitting Root on the helmet, were pivotal.
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Ravindra Jadeja: Jadeja’s spin proved crucial on a wearing pitch, dismissing Smith early to break England’s resistance. His tight bowling ensured England couldn’t rotate the strike easily.
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Akash Deep: Though wicketless on Day 5, Deep’s probing spells, including a maiden, maintained pressure, complementing Krishna and Siraj.
England finished at 367/9 after 85.1 overs, falling 6 runs short. India’s appeal for a caught-behind late on Day 4, followed by a bump-ball review, had delayed play, but the sunny conditions on Day 5 allowed India to capitalize.
Key Moments
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Prasidh’s Match-Turning Spell: Krishna’s dismissals of Brook (111), Root (103), Bethell, and Tongue, particularly the yorker to Tongue, were game-changers, as noted by BBC Sport.
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Root’s Emotional Century: Root’s 39th Test ton (103 off 137 balls), dedicated to Graham Thorpe with a headband tribute, brought England within 37 runs. His dismissal by Prasidh shifted momentum.
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Brook’s Explosive 111: Brook’s 98-ball century, surviving a drop on 19, nearly turned the game, but his lbw to Prasidh was a critical blow.
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Woakes’ Brave Effort: Woakes, batting one-handed due to injury, ran a bye and a single, but couldn’t overcome India’s bowlers.
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Rain’s Role: Day 4’s rain and bad light, stopping play at 339/6, gave India’s bowlers a rest, allowing them to return fresh on Day 5.
Analysis
India’s victory was a testament to their resilience, clawing back after trailing 2-1. The 374-run target, set by Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 118, Akash Deep’s 66, and centuries from Jadeja and Washington Sundar in the second innings, proved just beyond England’s reach. England’s “Bazball” approach, exemplified by Brook’s aggressive 111 and Root’s composed 103, nearly pulled off a record chase at The Oval, surpassing their 371 in the 1st Test. However, India’s bowlers, particularly Krishna’s late strikes and Jadeja’s spin on a cracking pitch, turned the tide. England’s lack of Chris Woakes as a bowler and his limited batting capacity, coupled with six dropped catches in India’s second innings, cost them dearly. The series, marked by intense battles and dramatic finishes, ended fittingly with a thrilling contest, with India’s fightback echoing their epic draw in the 4th Test.
Post-Match Reflections
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India’s Triumph: Shubman Gill’s leadership and India’s bowling discipline, especially Krishna’s 4/125, ensured a series draw. The team’s vocal fielding and strategic use of the new ball were decisive.
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England’s Near-Miss: Joe Root’s confidence in the lower order and Woakes’ bravery were not enough, as India’s bowlers outsmarted England’s aggressive tactics. The absence of a specialist spinner and Woakes’ injury exposed England’s vulnerabilities.
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Series Context: The 2-2 result reflects the competitiveness of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, with both teams showcasing physical and mental resilience over 25 days of Test cricket.
