IND vs ENG: Oval thriller goes to the wire! India hang by a thread as fifth Test heads into dramatic final day | Cricket News

India’s Prasidh Krishna, middle, celebrates the dismissal of England’s Joe Root, proper, on day 4 of the fifth cricket take a look at match between England and India at The Kia Oval in London, Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

London: The centre sq. at the Oval wore a abandoned look until half-hour earlier than begin of play on the fourth morning. Unlike the different days of this final Test of the sequence, there weren’t gamers queuing up to undergo their warmup drills. Yet, you would reduce the pressure throughout with a knife. India have been conserving their three strike bowlers — Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep, whereas England’s Harry Brook and Joe Root took a few throwdowns and retired to the dressing room.These characters performed lead roles in turning the area into a bullring, throwing ugly punches at one another earlier than rain and dangerous mild 75 minutes into the final session, took the sequence into its final dramatic fifth day. India will come again on Monday morning, 4 wickets away, with 34 runs in the financial institution, from ending the sequence at 2-2. Brook batted like a man on steroids to rating 111 off 98 whereas Root performed the monk who had the total area underneath his management as he hit 105 off 152 after they obtained collectively an hour into the first session with England, in pursuit of 374 on a tough pitch, trying nervy at 106/3.

In 35 overs of imperious shot-making, they turned the Oval into a gladiatorial area as England hurtled in direction of ending the sequence similar to they’d began it — sauntering previous a 370-plus goal.But then Siraj and Krishna weren’t there to agree to a give up with figures of three/109 and a couple of/95. Siraj, like Ben Stokes did in the third Test at Lord’s, dug deep into his vitality reserves and stored asking questions of Root’s defence. That resulted in Krishna discovering Root’s exterior edge to Dhruv Jurel to mild up the match once more underneath the darkish gray London skies after Brook’s hoick off Akash Deep utilized the brakes on England’s cost.In a spell of unchanged bowling after tea, Siraj and Krishna ensured India have been nonetheless respiration following the damaging blows inflicted by Brook and Root. India will hope the duo has sufficient left in the tank to flip up one final time on Monday morning and forestall a 1-3 scoreline with Jamie Overton and Jamie Smith at the crease. After all, they have been taking up two Yorkshiremen who have been bullish about affirming that their ‘Bazball’ model of cricket works. Root and Brook have been promoting for the England group’s ‘we-will-chase-down-anything’ philosophy.Siraj and Prasidh Krishna had Ben Duckett and stand-in captain Ollie Pope underneath their spell in the first hour of the day. They have been throughout England with the pitch providing exaggerated motion and a few uneven bounce. Duckett edging Krishna to second slip and Pope falling to Siraj LBW appeared a matter of time. Brook wasn’t having any of it; he turned up a bully.

There are moments that outline the course of a massive recreation. Siraj stepping on to the long-leg boundary when Brook, batting on 19, had topedged a quick ball from Krishna was clearly one. It was paying homage to Trent Boult stepping onto the rope after catching Ben Stokes in the 2019 World Cup final. Monday morning will inform if India find yourself on the unsuitable aspect like New Zealand in 2019.It is true that Siraj was in a nice rhythm deep into the morning session. He was nonetheless bowling at the peak of his powers even as it was his ninth innings of bowling in depth spells in the final two months. He was additionally quick exhausting his vitality ranges. He labored together with all his coronary heart and fervour. But his day out additionally highlighted that India have been desperately in need of one other wicket-taking possibility. Akash Deep lacked the zip and Krishna battled arduous to keep constant together with his line and size as soon as Brook went on the rampage.India began and completed robust on Sunday. They will hope that the day’s afternoon session doesn’t value them the sequence on Monday.