Mohammed Siraj led a spirited Indian fightback with a ferocious spell of pace bowling that rattled England’s middle order on day two of the fifth and final Test at The Oval.
At tea, England were reeling at 215 for seven, effectively eight down with Chris Woakes unavailable due to a shoulder injury, still trailing India’s modest first-innings total of 224 by nine runs.
Siraj’s scorching eight-over spell turned the tide after England’s commanding start. He dismissed Ollie Pope with a sharp nip-backer, outwitted Joe Root with late movement, and trapped Jacob Bethell with a searing inswinging yorker that thundered into the pads. The paceman’s fiery intensity underlined his reluctance to indulge in workload management as he kept charging in on a seam-friendly track.
England’s top order, having raced to 109 for one at lunch, was undone by pace and precision after the interval. The drama of the second session included a heated exchange between Root and Prasidh Krishna, adding tension to an already gripping contest.
Crawley, who top-scored with a blistering 64 off 57 deliveries, had earlier flayed the Indian pace attack alongside Ben Duckett (43 off 38) as the duo stitched together a whirlwind 92-run opening stand off just 77 balls. Crawley’s strokeplay included 12 boundaries, five of which came off Siraj’s bowling.
Prasidh struck thrice in the session, removing Crawley with a mistimed pull to mid-wicket and returning to claim the scalps of Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton on the stroke of tea, further pegging back England.
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The morning session had begun disastrously for India. Resuming at 204 for six, the tail folded meekly. Karun Nair (57) and Washington Sundar (26) perished swiftly before Gus Atkinson, who returned a richly deserved five-wicket haul, wiped out the tail to dismiss India inside the first half-hour.
England’s openers then launched a savage counterattack. Duckett's audacity saw him dance down the track and reverse scoop Akash Deep, before smashing Siraj for a ramp shot over the keeper’s head.
Crawley, meanwhile, showcased elegance with drives, flicks and back-foot punches as the ball raced to the boundary on a lush outfield.
Yet, just as England looked poised to gain control, India’s pacers responded with clinical precision. Operation revival was complete when Siraj’s toe-crushing yorker ended Bethell’s short stay, handing India the psychological edge heading into the final session.
India were bowled out for 224 in their first innings, with Karun Nair top-scoring with 57.
England 1st innings summary:
Zak Crawley c Jadeja b Krishna 64, Ben Duckett c Jurel b Akash Deep 43, Ollie Pope lbw b Siraj 22, Joe Root lbw b Siraj 29, Harry Brook not out 33, Jacob Bethell lbw b Siraj 6, Jamie Smith c Rahul b Krishna 8, Jamie Overton lbw b Krishna 0, Extras 10 (b-5, lb-2, nb-3), Total 215/7 in 42.5 overs.
Fall of wickets: 1-92, 2-129, 3-142, 4-175, 5-195, 6-215, 7-215.
Bowling: Siraj 12-1-66-3, Akash Deep 17-0-80-1, Prasidh Krishna 11.5-0-51-3, Jadeja 2-0-11-0.
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