England vs India, 5th Test highlights: India tighten grip as Siraj strikes late on Day 3; England need 324 more runs in final innings

India ended Day 3 of the fifth and final Test at the Kennington Oval on a high, thanks to a stunning late breakthrough by Mohammed Siraj that castled Zak Crawley just before stumps, shifting the momentum towards the visitors as England began their daunting chase of 374.

At stumps, England were 50 for 1, needing another 324 runs for victory on a pitch that still has some bite left for the pacers. Ben Duckett remained unbeaten on 34 off 48 balls, having survived a few close moments late in the day. The hosts had made a breezy start, but Siraj’s pinpoint yorker—off the penultimate delivery of the day—clean bowled Crawley and brought India right back into the contest.

India’s second innings: A display of grit and counterattack

Resuming Day 3 at 218/7, India added a further 178 runs to post 396 in their second innings, thanks to vital contributions from the lower order. The star of the innings was Yashasvi Jaiswal, who followed up his gritty start from Day 2 with a classy 118 off 164 balls, including 14 boundaries. It was his sixth Test century and his fourth against England—underlining his growing stature as a dependable opener.

Akash Deep, playing just his second Test, showed composure beyond his experience as he scored a fluent 66, peppered with 12 boundaries. He brought up his maiden Test fifty, capitalizing on a dropped chance early in the day. His counterattacking approach helped India wrest back control and pushed the lead towards a psychological milestone.

Ravindra Jadeja (53), Washington Sundar (53), and Dhruv Jurel (34) also chipped in with valuable runs, taking India’s total to 396 and setting England a formidable target of 374.

The English bowlers toiled for wickets with Josh Tongue (5/125) being the pick of the lot, claiming his second five-wicket haul of the series. Gus Atkinson supported well with 3/127, but the visitors’ lower order resilience hurt England’s hopes of a quick finish.

England’s first innings: A brief fightback

England had earlier posted 247 all out in response to India’s 224 in the first innings, gaining a slender 23-run lead. Zak Crawley (64), Harry Brook (53), and Ben Duckett (43) were the notable contributors. However, they failed to convert their starts into big hundreds.

India’s pace trio of Siraj (4/86), Akash Deep (1/80), and Prasidh Krishna (4/62) shared the wickets, keeping England in check despite an attacking approach. The Indian bowlers were relentless with their line and length, exposing England’s middle and lower order under pressure.

India’s first innings: A shaky start

Batting first, India were bowled out for 224 in 69.4 overs, with Karun Nair (57), Sai Sudharsan (38), and Washington Sundar (26) being the top scorers. The pitch offered seam movement early on, and the English bowlers exploited the conditions well.

Gus Atkinson starred with the ball, claiming 5/33 in a brilliant display of control and pace. Josh Tongue (2/57) and Chris Woakes (1/46) also played their roles effectively, dismantling India’s top order. The visitors failed to string together any significant partnerships, handing England an early advantage.

England’s chase begins, but India strike late

Set a target of 374, England’s openers looked assured in the early overs. Duckett played fluently, driving and cutting anything loose, while Crawley looked set to repeat his first innings success. India surprisingly opened the bowling with Prasidh Krishna, keeping Siraj in reserve, and the new-ball spell was tight but didn’t yield early wickets.

Just when it looked like England would head into Day 4 unscathed, Siraj returned to deliver a hammer blow. His deadly yorker off the penultimate ball of the day castled Crawley, breaking a budding 50-run stand and reigniting India’s hopes.

With England needing 324 runs and India needing 9 wickets, the match is finely balanced heading into Day 4. A lot will depend on how Duckett and the rest of the English top order tackle India’s pace attack under pressure.

The scenario ahead

India have all the momentum going into Day 4, especially after that late wicket. The pitch has flattened out but is still offering occasional bounce and seam movement. With over 300 runs to defend and a potent pace attack at their disposal, India will look to push for a series-leveling win.

For England, the challenge lies in batting time. A lot will depend on how their middle order — including Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Jamie Smith — handle the sustained pressure of a fourth-innings chase.

Score summary at Stumps Day 3:

India 1st innings: 224 all out (Karun Nair 57, Gus Atkinson 5/33)
England 1st innings: 247 all out (Zak Crawley 64, Siraj 4/86, Prasidh 4/62)
India 2nd innings: 396 all out (Jaiswal 118, Akash Deep 66, Jadeja 53, Tongue 5/125)
England 2nd innings: 50/1 in 13.5 overs (Duckett 34*, Siraj 1/11)
Target for England: 374

India may well feel they’re ahead at the end of Day 3, but the battle is far from over. With the series on the line and the Oval crowd buzzing, Day 4 promises to be another roller-coaster in what has been a gripping finale to the England-India Test series.

Let’s see how it unfolds.