India and England fought a pitched battle, denying each other even an inch, defying the odds, and facing each other with their chin up. Eventually, there could be only one winner, and England just held on as India ran short… but only just.
Former England fast bowler Steve Harmison rang the bell at the start of the final day of the test match. The tall, lanky bowler who troubled a many with his steep bounce and testing pace was overwhelmed by the occasion. What a sight it was.
With India needing 135 runs and England needing 6 wickets to record a famous victory, the day began with Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes bowling to KL Rahul and an injured Rishabh Pant. Brydon Carse who was the pick of the bowlers last evening, was surprisingly not introduced into the attack. But it didn’t matter.
Jofra Archer produced a ripper to castle Pant. The ball pitched on the middle stump and straightened to knock over Pant’s off stump, which went flying. Rishabh in pain was a crucial wicket, which tilted the game decisively in England’s favour.
To add to the woes, Ben Stokes got one to nip back from a good length and caught KL Rahul in front to be adjudged LBW. It was indeed a big strike from Stokes as India fell further behind. The bowling hero, Washington Sundar, promoted above Nitish Reddy, played a nothing shot and was caught brilliantly by an athletic Jofra Archer in his follow-through. Indians were reduced to 82/7.
Walked in Nitish Reddy and tried to stitch a partnership with Ravindra Jadeja. Lunch was approaching, and as has been the case on quite a few occasions, India lost a wicket just at the stroke of Lunch. Chris Woakes bowled a beauty to take Nitish Reddy’s edge, and India was struggling at 112/8 at the break.
The fight began after lunch. England in command looked to finish off the Indian tail, but were met with serious determination and stoic defiance from Bumrah and Jadeja. A 35-run partnership ensued of a massive 132 balls before Bumrah went for a biggie just to perish in the end. But he had played his part. He blocked and blocked and took the blows with gay abandon to deny the English.
When Siraj walked in, England needed just a wicket, and India was still behind by 46 runs. Again, both players exhibited bravery and unmoved resistance to slowly bring down the target bit by bit. Jadeja scored his 4th consecutive Fifty in the process, and as Tea was announced, the Indians were very much in the game.
A stroke of luck for England and a moment of misfortune for Siraj and India, finally settled the discourse. Shoaib Bashir bowled an innocuous delivery which deflected from Siraj’s bat, and went on to touch the leg stump, thus dislodging the bail. It was heartbreak for India while the English were cock-a-hoop.
England were winners by a meagre 22 runs. India’s brave fight had finally ended. Jadeja, Bumrah, and Siraj were the heroes, and though India lost, it was indeed a moment to be proud of, for the valour and fight shown by the boys.
Ben Stokes was declared the POTM for his brilliant and relentless bowling, his grind with the bat, and the way he led his team to an improbable victory.
What a Test Match!!
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