Siraj five seals Oval epic as India level series 2-2

Siraj five seals Oval epic as India level series 2-2

Mohammed Siraj starred in a stunning come-from-behind win at The Oval as India levelled the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2-2 with a thrilling six-run victory. England needed 35 runs with four wickets in hand, one of which was Chris Woakes with a dislocated right shoulder. Siraj picked up three wickets in a testing spell with the old ball to finish with a fifer that scripted a memorable win.

It was Harry Brook and Joe Root's hundreds, and a 195-run stand, on Day 4 that gave England the upper hand. A short sharp spell of rain shortly after Tea forced action to spill into the fifth day.

Jamie Overton pulled Prasidh Krishna for a boundary to begin the day. Siraj beat Jamie Smith twice before he finally nicked one behind. Siraj and India could have had a second wicket in as many deliveries but Gus Atkinson lucked out when the edge dropped just short of KL Rahul at second slip.

Overton was trapped in front of middle and leg by Siraj and saw umpire Kumar Dharmasena raise his finger. Overton availed a review, only to find 'umpire's call' on wickets. The review came to Josh Tongue's rescue in the following over when he was adjudged LBW, off Prasidh, but the tracking found the ball to be going down leg.

Tongue was then cleaned up by a pinpoint yorker from Prasidh, leaving England 17 away with no option but to call on the injured Woakes. The allrounder walked out to a rousing applause – bat in the left hand and his dominant arm in a sling.

Atkinson ensured Woakes stayed at the non-striker's end, refusing singles until the last deliveries of the overs, and targeting big hits.

It was Siraj's tenacity that prevailed over England's last pair's valiant fight. The pacer nailed a yorker to clean up Atkinson on 17, propelling India to a momentous win in front of a near capacity Oval.