India emerges victorious over England in a nail-biting fifth Test, with Siraj shining as the standout performer, securing a six-run win.
The fifth and final Test match of the England vs India series in 2025 at The Oval was a nail-biting conclusion, with India emerging victorious by a mere 6 runs. This was India's closest Test win by runs, surpassing their previous record of 13 runs against Australia in 2004.
England, chasing a challenging target of 374 runs, faced a tough battle. The match saw tense moments, including Chris Woakes coming out to bat despite a shoulder injury. Despite their best efforts, England fell 6 runs short of the target, their second highest successful chase in the series narrowly missed.
Mohammed Siraj was the standout performer on Day 5, finishing with a remarkable 5 wickets for 104 runs. His final wicket, a yorker that clean bowled Gus Atkinson, clinched the win for India. Siraj was named Player of the Match, with an overall return of 9 wickets for 190 runs.
The final session of the match was described as "57 minutes of hell" due to the intense pressure and fluctuating fortunes. England lost their final seven wickets for just 66 runs, causing a decisive collapse. Tailender Tongue was bowled by Krishna, leaving India on the brink of victory.
The series ended in a 2-2 draw, concluding a fiercely fought 5-match series. Shubman Gill, India's captain, said both teams played with their 'A' game. Chris Woakes, England's last man, made a significant emotional impact by coming to bat with an injured shoulder and the team still needing 17 runs for victory.
This dramatic finish was widely regarded as one of the most thrilling conclusions to a Test match in recent memory. Notably, the series started with England successfully chasing down a target of 371 to win at Headingley.
Key points of the dramatic ending: - England fell only 6 runs short of the target, their second highest successful chase in the series was eclipsed but narrowly missed this time. - Chris Woakes, despite a shoulder injury, made a significant emotional impact by coming to bat late in the innings. - Mohammed Siraj was the standout bowler on Day 5, finishing with 5 wickets for 104 runs, and taking the final wicket to win the game. - The narrow margin of 6 runs surpassed India's previous closest Test win by runs, cementing this as a historic moment in Indian cricket. - The conclusion was described as "57 minutes of hell" due to intense pressure and fluctuating fortunes during the final session.
India's historic victory in the fifth Test against England at The Oval in 2025 was achieved by a mere 6 runs, breaking their previous record of 13 runs against Australia in 2004. Despite England giving a tough fight, managing to chase their second highest target in the series, they missed the victory by this narrow margin.
