Author: Akshay Published Date: 05 Aug 2025
🇮🇳 India Pull Off Miracle Win! England Fall 6 Runs Short in Nail-Biting Finish
In one of the most dramatic finales in Test cricket history, India snatched a 6-run victory against England at The Oval, leveling the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series 2-2. Mohammed Siraj’s fiery 5/104 triggered a stunning England collapse on Day 5, turning what seemed like an inevitable loss into an all-time great Indian win.
🏏 The Final Over: How It Happened
- England needed just 35 runs with 4 wickets at the start of Day 5.
- Siraj struck gold: Removed Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, and Jamie Overton in a fiery spell.
- Last wicket: Siraj’s perfect yorker crushed Atkinson’s stumps, sealing the win.
- England all out for 367, falling 6 runs short of the 374-run target.
📊 Final Scorecard:
- India: 396 & 255
- England: 284 & 367 (Target: 374)
Mohammed Siraj: The Hero of The Oval
- 5/104 – His best Test figures in England.
- There are 23 wickets in the series – The highest wicket-taker (more than Bumrah, Anderson, or Broad).
- “I told my team I’d change the game” – Siraj credited Cristiano Ronaldo’s mentality for his belief.
- Rated “10/10” by experts – Sachin Tendulkar called it “one of India’s greatest bowling performances.”
England’s Collapse: From Certainty to Chaos
- Harry Brook (85) & Joe Root (84) had England cruising on Day 4.
- Prasidh Krishna’s early boundaries made it seem like a formality.
- Then Siraj happened: 3 wickets in 3 overs shattered England’s hopes.
- Chris Woakes (injured, batting with a sling) couldn’t save them.
Series Ends 2-2: What This Means
✅ India’s narrowest Test win by runs (previous best: 7 runs vs Aus, 1981).
✅ First time India avoided a series loss in England since 2007.
✅ Shubman Gill (750+ runs) emerged as a leader; Sundar, Jaiswal, Akash Deep shone.
✅ England’s missed chance – Their highest-ever 4th innings chase at The Oval was 263 (1902).
Reactions: “One of India’s Greatest Wins!”
- Sachin Tendulkar: “This is why we love Test cricket!”
- Gautam Gambhir: “Siraj’s spell will be remembered forever.”
- Ben Stokes: “Credit to India, they held their nerve.”