England’s walking-wounded blown up at the post

Indian players react after taking the last England wicket of Atkinson to win a gripping Test and square the series 2-2

England in all probability blew up a golden opportunity of winning the fifth and final cricket Test against India at the Oval yesterday to secure what would have been a 3-1 series result in the five-match series after taking the field needing 35 runs with four wickets in hand from an overnight 339 for 6.

On the previous day England sat pretty at 301 for 3 chasing a 374 target but century maker Harry Brook (111) lost his bat in the air when he attempted to crack a ball from India paceman Akash Deep and the ball that was also in the air sailed into the hands of Mohammed Siraj nearby.

England then threw away another wicket when Jacob Bethel (5) attempting a mighty hit as if the occasion was a T20 contest was bowled middle stump as he stepped out the smash a ball from fast bowler Prasidh Krishna. It did not take long for another century maker and the most experienced England batsman Joe Root (105) to disregard his century and cut a ball close to his body from Kirshna that he edged into the hands of the keeper as England slumped from 301 for 3 to 339 for 6 when rain and poor light ended the fourth day.

England moving out on the final day with India sniffing victory like blood hounds had to eventually depend on an injured Chris Woakes to come out as the last man with 17 more runs to get for victory.

Woakes with his arm in a sling after he busted his shoulder while fielding on the first day walked into a roar of cheer from England supporters with Gus Artkinson at the crease and the home team on 357 for 7 chasing the target of 374.

Atkinson hit Siraj for a six and Woakes ran a bye as wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, missed the stumps, so Atkinson can be on strike for the next over.

Prasidh Krishna bowled the next over and Woakes was able to back up Atkinson for two runs and the pair ran a single for Atkinson to be on strike facing Siraj in the following over.But Atkinson was bowled by Siraj, giving India their closest win in a Test by way of runs.

Both teams left the field with the series drawn 2-2 and while India lived to cherish the occasion for years to come, England will have only themselves to blame for blowing up the match from a safe 301 for 3 to 367 all out, losing seven wickets for 66 runs.

Scores
India 224 (Nair 57, Atkinson 5-33, Tongue 3-57) & 396 (Jaiswal 118; Tongue 5-125)
England 247 (Crawley 64; Krishna 4-62, Siraj 4-86) & 367 (Brook 111, Root 105; Siraj 5-104)
India win by six runs to draw series 2-2

Chris Woakes became England’s first casualty on the first day while fielding and batted with his arm in a sling