England decider sees Atkinson and Tongue seizing opportunity as India face difficulties
The fifth Test of the ongoing series between England and India saw a thrilling moment as India's captain Shubman Gill was run out by England fast bowler Gus Atkinson. The incident occurred when Gill, attempting to get back to safety after setting off for a single that was not on, slipped while doing so.
The match was played on a green-tinged pitch, providing a challenging surface for both teams. England, missing the services of Sam Curran and injured skipper Ben Stokes, were led by Ollie Pope. On the Indian side, the team underwent four changes, including the absence of Jasprit Bumrah.
The English bowling unit, despite the absences, managed to make inroads into the Indian batting line-up. Chris Woakes, one of the key bowlers for England, suffered a shoulder injury while diving to save a boundary and may be ruled out of the rest of the match.
Woakes' absence was felt as early as the 26th over when he dismissed KL Rahul for 14 runs, with the batsman edging the ball to the wicketkeeper. Ravindra Jadeja, who had scored a defiant hundred in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, was dismissed by Woakes' teammate Tongue for 9 runs, also edging the ball to Jamie Smith.
The Indian batting struggled to cope with the English bowling, with Yashasvi Jaiswal being dismissed lbw by Atkinson for 2 runs. Dhruv Jurel followed soon after, caught at second slip by Harry Brook off the bowling of Atkinson for 19 runs. India's score stood at 153-6 after the dismissal of Jurel.
However, India managed to recover somewhat, with Karun Nair top-scoring for them with 52 not out. Washington Sundar was unbeaten on 19 runs for India at the close of play.
The current schedule of five Tests in less than seven weeks has taken its toll on both teams, with key players from both sides missing the match due to injuries. The team spokesman stated that Woakes would be assessed overnight, with a further update on his fitness due on Friday.
Despite the challenges, the match at The Oval promises to be an exciting contest, with both teams fighting hard to secure a series victory. England's local hero Atkinson, who took a catch in this match, will undoubtedly play a crucial role in the English bowling attack.
India, checking for a series victory, will face an uphill battle without a few key players due to injuries, including Jasprit Bumrah. The sports encounters at The Oval between England and an injured India continue to thrill, with the latest incident being the run-out of Gill by Atkinson.
