In a jaw-dropping finish, India completed their maiden Test match victory on British soil – a sensational six-run win at The Oval. That exciting conclusion evened the series at 2 games apiece. It further revealed the heart and fight of the Indian side. That game, played on the last day of an ever more historic summer, had England requiring 35 for the most improbable of chases of 374.
The mood was electric as Chris Woakes walked to the crease to bat at number 11. Even while nursing a dislocated shoulder, he was hell-bent on making sure England got the job done. Though Woakes played through the pain, he demonstrated tremendous courage. All he could manage was to grip the bat with his right hand, left arm still holstered in a sling under his jumper. What made his presence at the crease all the more ominous was that tension which seemed to wrap itself around the stadium.
The longer the match went on, the slimmer England’s hopes of winning became. Woakes stepped into the breach with 17 runs still required, but it was clear that his discomfort had gone up a few notches. Underlining the point, former cricketer Ravi Shastri said on Sky Sports that Woakes was “in severe agony.” It was clear that every lap he ran was causing him tremendous pain. Tension was high as wickets fell quickly in succession. Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson all went for ducks, scoring a mere 28 runs between them as a team.
In a very exciting finish to that game, Mohammed Siraj was the star. He clinched India’s triumphant finale by clean bowling Gus Atkinson without the latter having faced a ball. This tense conclusion gave victory to India and ensured that the series would finish level.
Chris Woakes’ near heroic effort to carry England to an improbable win has fans and pundits rushing to extol his valiant virtues. Unfortunately, his heroic work came with a cost. He will now sit for a few months after self-injuring while fielding earlier in the game.
