England required 291 runs to chase whereas India needed 10 wickets on the final day to win the fourth test and take a 2-1 lead in the series. Before the English openers walked in to bat the Indian fans were expecting a stellar fifth-day showdown. Their expectations turned into reality as India sparked a huge turnaround after the first session to dismiss England for 210 with 30 overs to spare.
With this result, India leads the series 2-1 going into the fifth test. Regardless of the result in the next match, the men in blue will retain the Pataudi trophy. Let’s get into the details of what went down on the fifth day of the fourth test match.
Haseeb Hameed and Rory Burns continued their partnership and played the first 10-12 overs very well and added 30 runs to the total. Both Hameed and Burns reached their respective half centuries and it looked like England could even chase down the gigantic total. However, Shardul Thakur’s introduction helped India get the first breakthrough. Rory Burns edged one to the keeper and went back to the pavilion for 50.
A few overs later, Mayank Agarwal displayed a brilliant piece of fielding and ran out Dawid Malan and England lost their second wicket. Root and Hameed went for lunch and India needed 8 wickets to record a historic win.
Bumrah and Co’s excellent bowling display help India to spark a comeback win on the 5th Day of the Test match
After the first session, it looked like the fourth test was heading to a draw. Consequently, Virat Kohli decided to bring on his premier bowler Jasprit Bumrah and Jadeja for a second spell immediately. This decision reaped a lot of benefits as Jadeja dismissed Hameed for 63 in his second over of the spell.
Bumrah on the other hand, came in like a wrecking ball and caused a lot of difficulties to Root and Ollie Pope. In the 65th over, Jasprit Bumrah set up Pope with a few straight balls and bowled him with a beautiful swinging delivery. The number 10th ranked bowler in the world shattered the stumps of Bairstow in the following over and England was reeling for 146-5.
Inspired by Bumrah’s terrific spell, other Indian bowlers got their tails up and wrecked havoc on the English lower middle order. Jadeja immediately took the wicket of Moeen Ali for nought to add more woes to the English batting lineup.
Thereafter Root and Woakes built a 30 run partnership and as a consequence Kohli decided to get Shardul Thakur into the attack. The Indian allrounder once again gave India a much needed breakthrough by cleaning the stumps of Joe Root. Thereon it was just a matter of time until the English lower order was taken apart by the Indian quicks.
Subsequently, Umesh Yadav joined the party and took all remaining three wickets to hand India a historic victory against England. To summarise, the day’s play in short England started the first session well. However, Bumrah and the rest of the bowlers showcased an impressive display of bowling and England collapsed from 120-2 to 210 all out within the span of 40 overs.
This was India’s first win at Oval and as a result, the Men in blue lead the series 2-1. Rohit Sharma received the player of the match for his excellent knock of 127 runs in the second innings. India’s 157 runs will give them a lot of confidence going into the fifth test that will commence from 10th September.
