LONDON, Aug 4— India clinched a dramatic six-run win over England at The Oval on Monday to level the five-Test series 2-2, as Mohammed Siraj delivered a fiery five-wicket spell on the final day of the inaugural Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
Set a daunting target of 374, England resumed the final day at 339 for 6. The contest, hanging by a thread after rain and bad light cut short Day 4, took a sharp turn in the morning session. Siraj struck twice in a hostile burst, while Prasidh Krishna chipped in with a crucial wicket. In the end, it was Siraj again who delivered the knockout punch, finishing with 5 for 84 in the second innings and a match haul of 9 wickets.
“It was a matter of staying patient and hitting the right areas,” said Siraj after the match. “We knew one breakthrough could open the gates.”
England’s second innings folded for 367 in 85.1 overs—just seven runs short of their target—in what turned out to be one of the closest finishes between the two sides in recent memory.
India captain Shubman Gill credited the bowlers for pulling off the win. “Our bowlers showed immense heart today. It was about belief,” said Gill. “Even with the weather against us, we knew we could do it.”
The win allowed India to draw level in the series, which had seesawed from the start:
- 1st Test, Leeds – England won by 5 wickets
- 2nd Test, Birmingham – India bounced back with a 336-run win
- 3rd Test, Lord’s – England edged India by 22 runs
- 4th Test, Manchester – Rain forced a draw
After England won the toss and chose to bowl first in the decider, India pieced together a resilient performance. While the batters laid the platform, it was the bowling unit—led by Siraj and supported by Prasidh and Akash Deep—that turned the tide on a tense final day.
The match also marked the end of the first-ever Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, introduced to honor the modern legends of the game. And fittingly, it concluded in the most gripping fashion.
“We’ve witnessed a classic,” England skipper Ollie Pope said. “It’s disappointing to fall short, but credit to India for how they bowled this morning. Siraj was relentless.”
The series draw means both teams share the newly minted trophy, though it was India walking away with the momentum—courtesy of a spell that will be remembered for years.
