India pulled off one of the narrowest victories in their Test cricket history, defeating England by just 6 runs in the fifth and final Test at The Oval. This nail-biting finish marked India’s slimmest ever win in terms of runs in the format’s long and storied history.
Batting first, India posted a modest 224 in their first innings. England replied with 247, taking a slender 23-run lead. However, India roared back in their second innings, piling up 396 and setting England a daunting target of 374 to chase on a turning, tense final-day track.
By stumps on Day Four, England looked poised to script a memorable win, standing at 339 for 6 — just 35 runs away from victory with four wickets in hand. At the crease were Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton, showing resilience under pressure.
But Day Five began with drama.
Mohammed Siraj struck early, removing Jamie Smith for just 2 runs. Soon after, Overton departed for 9. Josh Tongue fell without troubling the scorers, leaving the injured Chris Woakes to walk out and bat despite his discomfort — a testament to England’s fighting spirit.
However, the final blow came when Gus Atkinson, who showed late resistance with a quick 17, was dismissed by Siraj, handing India a famous 6-run win.
Siraj was the hero with the ball, finishing with a five-wicket haul. Prasidh Krishna provided crucial support with four wickets. For England, Harry Brook’s 111 and Joe Root’s classy 105 kept them in the game till the final hour.
With both teams having won two matches apiece in the five-match series, the Test series ended in a dramatic stalemate — a fitting finish to a high-quality cricket contest that swung like a pendulum till the very last wicket.
