India secured a nerve-jangling, six-run victory over England in a staggering end at The Kia Oval – which included Chris Woakes heading out to bat along with his arm in a sling – because the sequence ended 2-2 after six weeks of pulsating Check cricket.
Mohammed Siraj, fittingly, cleaned up Gus Atkinson (17) to seal India’s win within the fifth Check, snaring his twenty third wicket of the sequence as England have been all out for 367 whereas making an attempt to drag off their second-highest chase within the format of 374.
The stricken Woakes, who suffered a suspected left shoulder dislocation fielding on the primary night, got here out at No 11 after England misplaced their ninth wicket with 17 runs required, however didn’t face a ball as Atkinson farmed the strike.
The cheers from England followers after Atkinson had clipped Prasidh Krishna to long-on for one on the finish of the eighty fifth over, have been changed by wild India celebrations a supply later when Siraj clattered Atkinson’s stumps.
The second would have been all of the sweeter for Siraj after he did not catch Harry Brook on 19 on day four- treading on the boundary cushion at deep tremendous leg after pouching the ball – with Brook (111) and Joe Root (105) subsequently taking England to 301-3 with a fourth-wicket stand of 195.
Nevertheless, India’s quicks fought again that night, getting the outdated ball to speak beneath leaden skies and in entrance of a raucous away help, with England closing on 339-6 and Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton given an intensive working over earlier than night rain.
A drama-laced final-morning end seemed assured and duly transpired with Overton (9) putting the primary two balls of the morning for 4 to chop England’s ask to 27 earlier than the tireless Siraj nicked off Smith and pinned Overton lbw – England eight down with 20 wanted.
Each ball turned an occasion – lbw shouts right here, deliveries fizzing previous edges there – and when Prasish Krishna then castled Josh Tongue (0), Woakes made his courageous entrance.
Atkinson whittled the requirement right down to 11 as Akash Deep tipped his leg-side heave over the rope at deep midwicket for six however he was then poleaxed by Siraj with out the necessity for the second new ball.
Extra to observe.