The second day of the fifth and final Test between England and India at The Oval was a rollercoaster, filled with dramatic shifts in momentum. After a dominant morning session by England, India fought back in the afternoon and evening, leaving the match evenly poised.
India started the day poorly, losing their remaining four wickets for a mere six runs to be all out for 224. Gus Atkinson finished with a five-wicket haul. England then began their innings aggressively, with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett putting on a rapid 92-run opening stand in just 13 overs. It seemed England would take firm control of the match, especially with India missing Jasprit Bumrah.
However, Akash Deep dismissed Duckett, sparking a remarkable comeback by the Indian bowlers. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna bowled with fire and accuracy, taking full advantage of the helpful conditions. Siraj, in particular, was exceptional, claiming the wickets of Ollie Pope, Joe Root, and Jacob Bethell in a fiery spell. Krishna supported him well, dismissing the dangerous Zak Crawley, as well as Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton and Gus Atkinson.
England's batting order collapsed, and they were eventually dismissed for 247, giving them a slender lead of 23 runs. Harry Brook fought hard with a quick 53, but he was the last man out, bowled by Siraj. Siraj finished with 4 wickets for 86 runs, becoming the leading wicket-taker in the series with 18 wickets. Krishna also took 4 wickets for 62 runs.
India's second innings started positively, with Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring a brisk half-century. He was dropped twice, on 20 and 40, and made England pay for their mistakes. However, England fought back with the wickets of KL Rahul and Sai Sudharsan. Rahul was caught at first slip off the bowling of Josh Tongue, while Sudharsan was trapped lbw by Atkinson. There was some heated exchange between Sudharsan and Ben Duckett after the dismissal.
At the close of play, India were 75 for 2, with a lead of 52 runs. Jaiswal was unbeaten on 51, and nightwatchman Akash Deep was also at the crease. The match is now finely balanced, with both teams having a chance to win the series.
Several factors contributed to the day's dramatic shifts. India's poor start in the morning put them on the back foot, but their bowlers responded brilliantly in the afternoon. Siraj's fiery spell was crucial in turning the momentum. England's aggressive batting approach led to quick runs, but also contributed to their collapse. Their sloppy fielding also didn't help their cause.
Looking ahead to day three, the match is likely to be another closely contested affair. The Oval is statistically the best venue for bowlers on Day 3. The team that seizes the advantage in the morning session could well dictate the direction of the Test.
