India batters set stage for epic series finish on Day 3
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Washington Sundar powered India to an imposing total as the series heads into a thrilling decider.
A dominant Day 3 for India saw their batters set up a strong target for England before Mohammed Siraj dismissed Zak Crawley off the final ball, capping off a near-perfect outing for the visitors in the final Test at The Oval.
With all results still on the table, the series is set for a thrilling finale on Day 4.
India began Day 3 aiming to extend their overnight 52-run lead, with Yashasvi Jaiswal well set at the crease and Akash Deep accompanying him as the nightwatchman.
Surprisingly, it was Akash Deep who took the initiative, as he smashed his highest score of 66 and shared a 107-run stand with Jaiswal – the biggest partnership of the match so far.
England went into lunch firmly on the back foot, but they regrouped well in the second session, with their pacers attacking with renewed vigour. Gus Atkinson set the tone right after the break, striking with the very first ball by trapping Indian skipper Shubman Gill leg before wicket.
Atkinson, who already snared a five-for in the first innings, continued his rampage, forcing Karun Nair into an uncomfortable position. The extra bounce took the edge of Nair’s bat, with Jamie Smith taking a sharp catch behind the stumps.
Yashasvi Jaiswal then made England pay for their missed chances, bringing up his sixth Test century in emphatic fashion.
However, Josh Tongue eventually managed to dismiss the in-form opener, forcing him into a ramp shot that didn’t get the desired elevation and landed straight in the hands of Jamie Overton deep on the boundary.
Ravindra Jadeja and Dhruv Jurel then steadied the innings, holding firm until tea as India extended their lead to 281 runs.
India’s lead past the 300-run mark before Overton ended the partnership with a beautiful outswinger that trapped Jurel in front. Jadeja brought up his half-century shortly after but was soon caught at second slip off the bowling of Tongue.
The pacer then struck again, dismissing Mohammed Siraj to leave India nine down. With just one wicket remaining, Washington Sundar shifted gears and brought up a quickfire half-century, smashing four sixes and two fours en route to propel India’s lead to a commanding 374.
Tongue completed his five-wicket haul with the dismissal of Sundar and took him to 19 wickets for the series, the highest for the hosts.
Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley powered through India’s charge in the final hour of play, adding another solid 50-run partnership. However, on the last ball of the day, Mohammed Siraj delivered a brilliant yorker to bowl over Crawley, giving India a crucial breakthrough and a huge lift heading into Day 4.