India’s pace duo Mohammad Siraj and Prasidh Krishna sparked a dramatic English collapse on day two of the fifth and final Test at The Oval, as the series decider continued to swing wildly. The visitors now hold a slender advantage, leading by 52 runs with eight wickets in hand after a chaotic day that saw 15 wickets fall.
After being dismissed for 224 earlier in the day, India clawed their way back into the contest thanks to a blistering spell from Siraj (4-86) and the recalled Krishna (4-62), who helped bowl England out for 247, limiting the hosts to a narrow 23-run lead.
India reached stumps on 75 for 2 in their second innings, with Yashasvi Jaiswal unbeaten on 51. The left-hander was dropped twice, once by Harry Brook at slip on 20, and again on 40 when Liam Dawson misjudged a catch in the deep and took the ball to his face. Jaiswal brought up his fifty off just 44 balls, launching Jamie Overton for six over the slips.
Nightwatchman Akash Deep finished on 4 not out after joining Jaiswal late in the evening session, which was curtailed by bad light. KL Rahul fell early, caught by Joe Root off Josh Tongue for 7, while Sai Sudharsan was trapped lbw by Atkinson for 11.
England, who had raced to 109 for 1 by lunch in response to India’s modest first-innings score, appeared on course to build a significant lead. Zak Crawley (64) and Ben Duckett (43) shared a rapid 92-run opening stand in just 13 overs, taking full advantage of India’s lack of penetration with the new ball.
But the tide turned dramatically post-lunch. Siraj dismissed Ollie Pope lbw for 22, then sent back Joe Root in the same manner for 29, after the England stalwart had exchanged words with Krishna during a tense spell. Jacob Bethell was also removed lbw by Siraj without offering a review.
Krishna, returning to the side after injury, struck a crucial blow before tea. He removed Crawley with a mistimed pull, then dismissed Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton in the same over, the latter falling lbw for a duck. Brook, who had earlier played a remarkable ‘falling’ sweep for six, was England’s top scorer with 53, but he was bowled by Siraj to end the innings.
Chris Woakes, nursing a shoulder injury sustained while diving in the field on 31 July, did not bat, leaving England a bowler short for the rest of the match.
Earlier, England had dominated the morning session thanks to Gus Atkinson, who returned to the XI after a two-month injury layoff and claimed 5 for 33 his fourth five-wicket haul in 13 Tests. Atkinson also ran out India captain Shubman Gill with a direct hit, capping off an excellent all-round display.
India, who resumed on 204 for 6, lost their final four wickets for just 20 runs in 5.4 overs, collapsing to 224 all out. Atkinson cleaned up the tail, dismissing Siraj and Krishna in quick succession. Josh Tongue had earlier removed Karun Nair for 57, while Washington Sundar fell cheaply after a miscued shot to deep square leg.