Siraj strikes after Jaiswal helps India set England daunting target

Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a brilliant 118, while Washington Sundar hit a quick 53 to help India post 396 in their second innings on the third day of the fifth and deciding Test at The Oval. India set England a challenging target of 374 runs to win with just over two days remaining.

Mohammed Siraj sealed the day with a yorker that dismissed Zak Crawley for 14, sparking celebrations among the Indian team. England ended the day 50-1, still needing 324 runs to win.

England’s highest successful fourth-innings chase at The Oval is 263 runs in 1902. Their highest chase in any Test is 378 against India in 2022, with a recent chase of 371 at Headingley earlier this series.

Jaiswal, playing his second hundred of the series, was well supported by nightwatchman Akash Deep, who scored an accomplished 66, his maiden Test fifty. The pair put on a 107-run third-wicket partnership.

Both Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar scored 53 runs each, with Sundar launching an aggressive late assault after England took the new ball.

England’s chances were hampered by dropped catches, with six missed chances during India’s innings, including three reprieves for Jaiswal.

India captain Shubman Gill was dismissed for 11, finishing the series with 754 runs, just 20 runs shy of Sunil Gavaskar’s record for most runs in an Indian Test series (774).

Jaiswal reached his century off 127 balls, including 12 fours and two sixes. He was dropped six times, including once at leg gully by Ben Duckett.

Sundar’s quickfire 53 came off 39 balls, featuring three sixes and multiple boundaries. He was last man out after a late surge that included punishing England’s bowlers.

Brief scores: India 224 & 396 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 118, Akash Deep 66; Josh Tongue 5-125) lead England 50-1 (Zak Crawley 14) by 324 runs at stumps.