England versus India 5th Test: Day 5 Highlights
Final Score
India 1st innings: 224
England 1st innings: 247
India 2nd innings: 396
England 2nd innings: 367
Result: India won by 6 runs
It was a nail‑biting 5th day at a packed Oval that saw India defend a modest target of 374 to clinch victory by just six runs. It was their narrowest-ever Test win. England looked set for a victory when they needed only 35 more runs on the final morning. India’s bowlers, led by a sensational Mohammed Siraj, turned the game on its head. The thrilling conclusion sealed the series at 2–2.
England’s collapse
England resumed their chase needing 35 runs with four wickets in hand. The momentum, however, swung dramatically. Jamie Smith fell early, after edging to Dhruv Jurel, courtesy Siraj’s precision line and length. Then Jamie Overton was trapped leg-before-wicket (LBW) and Josh Tongue dismissed via a lethal yorker from Prasidh Krishna. The dismissal of these tail-enders brought the score to 357/9 setting the stage for the final over.
Woakes’, the tragic hero
Chris Woakes, with a badly dislocated shoulder, walked out to bat even though he was unable to face a ball. His courage was widely acknowledged. Woakes grimaced in pain while running between the wickets. Gus Atkinson protected him by facing all the balls himself.
Siraj, the hero
Mohammed Siraj produced a breathtaking final over that sealed the victory by uprooting Atkinson’s off stump with a pinpoint yorker. The dismissal ended the match and the series. Siraj’s final innings figures of 5 wickets for 104 earned him the player of the match award.
A spectacular finale
The Oval’s final session joined cricketing lore for its tension and turnaround. The drama paralleled epic Test finishes like the 2005 Ashes, prompting comparisons to some of the sport’s greatest. England coach Brendon McCullum described it as “the best five‑match Test series” he had experienced.
The England versus India series fittingly ended 2-2. Both sides played their hearts out and it was the most intensely fought series with play happening on all 25 days allotted.
