Oval Test Thriller: Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj delivered the match-winning ball in the 295th over’s first delivery, bowling out Gus Atkinson to seal a dramatic win for India in the Oval Test 2025. What made this match unforgettable was the suspense that lasted for 294 overs — with no clear winner in sight. It could have gone India’s way, England’s way, or even become only the third tied Test in history.
Let’s revisit the 12 unforgettable moments that made this one of the greatest Test matches of all time:
1. India Collapse After Losing the Toss – Karun Nair’s Lone Fight
India lost their fifth toss in a row and were forced to bat first on a swinging Oval pitch. At 123/5, things looked grim. Karun Nair’s fighting half-century pushed the total to 224, but it remained the lowest first innings total of the series.
2. Duckett-Crawley Onslaught Puts England Ahead
England’s openers responded aggressively. By the 13th over, they crossed 90. Zak Crawley went on to score a rapid fifty. At 128/1, England looked set to dominate.
3. Siraj-Krishna Reverse the Tide(Oval Test Thriller)
Despite being 215/5, England were pulled back to 247 all out. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna picked up 5 wickets for just 33 runs. England’s lead? Only 23.
4. Jaiswal’s Century & Akashdeep’s Surprise Fifty
India started steadily in the second innings. With KL Rahul and Sudharsan out, night-watchman Akashdeep surprised everyone with a fluent half-century. Yashasvi Jaiswal built a solid century.
5. Middle-Order Collapse Brings England Back
India were well-placed at 177/2 before losing 3 key wickets for just 53 runs. The collapse included Akashdeep, Gill, and Karun Nair — reducing India’s lead to just over 200.
6. Jadeja & Washington Build Defendable Lead
Jadeja (53) and Washington Sundar (53) rescued India with crucial fifties. Their contributions helped India set a tricky target as they extended the lead beyond 300.
7. Siraj Drops Brook – England Take Control
Harry Brook was dropped on 19 by Siraj. He and Joe Root then built a 195-run partnership, taking England to 301/3. With only 73 runs needed, England looked set to win.
8. Brook Throws It Away – India Strikes Back
Brook attempted a wild shot after hitting back-to-back boundaries and got out. Shortly after, Jacob Bethell and Joe Root also fell. From 301/3, England collapsed to 337/6.
9. Rain Pushes Match to Day 5
Despite the game heading for a Day 4 finish, bad light and rain stopped play early. Only 62.3 overs were bowled, dragging the thrilling Test into a fifth day.
10. Overton Hits Two Boundaries – England Need 27
England needed 35 runs on Day 5 with four wickets in hand. Jamie Overton smashed the first two balls of the day for boundaries — making it 27 to win.
11. Siraj’s Double Blow Turns the Game
Siraj dismissed Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton in quick succession. Krishna then took out Josh Tongue. Suddenly, England were 9 down, still 17 runs away.
12. Injured Chris Woakes Bats with One Hand – Final Over Drama
Chris Woakes, who had dislocated his shoulder, walked in to bat with one hand tucked inside his sweater. Gus Atkinson tried to protect him by taking strike. With just 7 runs needed, Siraj bowled Atkinson in the 295th over, sealing India’s historic 6-run win — the narrowest Test victory by runs in Indian history.
Result: India Wins by 6 Runs – Series Drawn 2-2
India not only avoided defeat but also levelled the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2-2, despite a shaky start to the series. A young Indian team showcased grit, resilience, and drama(Oval Test Thriller) in one of the most thrilling matches in Test history.
Oval test thriller ind vs eng scorecard
India vs England (IND vs ENG) LIVE Cricket Score, 5th Test Match Day 5 Updates: Chasing 374 runs, England were in a bit of a pickle at 106/3; however, Harry Brook and Joe Root launched the counter-attack to push India on the back foot on Day-4
Oval test thriller ind vs eng highlights
6 runs India’s margin of victory in the fifth Test against England at The Oval, their narrowest in Tests. The previous narrowest margin was 13 runs while defending 107 against Australia in Mumbai in 2004.
The six-run margin is also the joint third-narrowest defeat for England in Tests.
Also Read: Injured Chris Woakes Bats with One Hand – Final Over Drama
