India deny England to seize exhilarating victory and series draw despite Chris Woakes heroics

India beat England by six runs to win fifth Test and draw series 2-2: Mohammed Siraj inspired the tourists at the Oval with a five-wicket haul on an action-packed day five

India repelled England and Chris Woakes’s heroics to produce an exhilarating day-five blitz to snatch a six-run victory in the fifth Test and a series draw at a raucous Oval.

After a combination of rain and bad light sent this gripping series into Monday, the drama came to a boil across an absorbing morning, with bowlers Mohammed Siraj – the player of the match after a memorable five-wicket haul – and Prasidh Krishna providing the spark as the ball hooped around corners.

It ended with Gus Atkinson shielding Woakes, batting with a sling with one arm tucked inside his jumper. But Siraj, clasping the ball long after cleaning out Atkinson to complete the win off the back of 5-104, conjured a spell of breathtaking speed and variety. The maverick bowler rebounded after squandering a chance to dismiss Harry Brook before his marvellous century and innings of 111, sealing a win for his country and the thousands of delirious India fans in south London and the start of a new era.

“It means absolutely everything,” said KL Rahul. “I've seen India win the World Cup, nothing compares, but so many doubts, so many questions from everyone if Test cricket would stay or not... I think we have answered that question. A team that was not given a chance in this series, it might seem like a draw, but I think for India, it will rank right at the top. This is where the change begins.”

If the equation appeared simple enough at the start of play, with England chasing 35 runs for victory in the Test and series, and India desperately searching for four wickets, with one of those the one-armed Woakes, to earn a draw, then the margins immediately narrowed yet further.

Krishna raced in to complete his over from last night, with dark clouds providing a gloomy backdrop, and Jamie Overton clattered him for four to ease some nerves.

But that was as comfortable as England would be for the next half an hour, as the Indian seamer almost produced the perfect response. Overton almost dragged on, and the ball raced to the boundary off his inside edge for four more precious runs.

If India started on the back foot, then Siraj, so often the villain throughout this absorbing series packed with plenty of needle, brought a counterpunch, superbly tempting Jamie Smith into a narrow miss with a lazy waft. The respite would not last, though. A belated walk after the next ball, feathering one to Dhruv Jurel, with the review eventually revitalising Indian hopes. Just two runs from Smith, England’s last recognised batter, brought even more jeopardy to the contest.

Siraj was wheeling away a moment later after his next ball, as Atkinson nicked to Rahul. But the fielder couldn’t squeeze his fingers under the ball, the agony of the ball pressing them into the turf. An extraordinary over underlined the reality of how this game is defined by inches. Two overs down, nails shortening by the minute.

Mohammed Siraj appeals for the wicket of Jamie Smith (Ben Whitley/PA Wire)

Atkinson then clattered one off Prasidh through the offside, but the lightning Ravindra Jadeja scurried to the boundary to limit the damage to three runs.

Siraj then trapped Overton (9) lbw, umpire Kumar Dharmasena’s belated decision sparking wild celebrations as India moved to the brink of victory. The review showed no bat involved, with the ball glancing leg stump. From 22 balls, two wickets and two boundaries.

Krishna then removed Josh Tongue; another long wait ensured, tension simmering. The review was emphatic and demanded immediately. Tracker revealed the ball gliding down the leg side, though. Respite for England, but again, not for long. Krishna begged his captain for another review a ball later, but Gill resisted this time.

Chris Woakes, his dislocated shoulder in a sling, grimaces after running a single (Getty)

The drama eventually dipped a little, but Krishna brought it to a boil once more, cleaning out Tongue to send stumps sprawling. It enabled the wounded Woakes to walk out amid wild scenes, England still requiring 17 runs to win. A remarkable image to conclude a remarkable series.

If the principles of Bazball were discarded today in this rearguard, then Atkinson provided a telling reminder with a muscular heave to cow corner. Akash Deep tipped it over the boundary for a huge maximum. An opportunity to grab a single, with 11 runs needed, was then predictably rebutted, ensuring Woakes remained a mere spectator at the other end.

Siraj leads the India celebrations after taking the wicket of Jamie Overton (Getty)

Siraj then bowled again, tasked with depriving England of a quick single, but Atkinson dashed to the non-striker’s end, forcing Woakes to desperately lunge and get off strike. He did so, arms jiggling and a grimace on his face, as Jurel rolled the ball inches past the stumps. It was a move that brought regret and a discarded glove from the wicketkeeper soon after.

Atkinson clubbed two more to the cow corner boundary to bring the target down to single figures and a delicate dink for one more off Krishna to delay India’s shot at Woakes a little longer. It mattered little as Siraj produced another sensational delivery, smashing Atkinson’s stumps in the most emphatic end to a series in recent memory.