Follow UsThe fifth and final Test between India and England is delicately balanced at The Oval after Day 3. Chasing 374, England ended the day at 50/1. India, trailing 2-1 in the series, will look to level things up on Sunday.
India started the day on 75/2, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and nightwatchman Akash Deep capitalising on England’s inconsistent bowling. Akash Deep scored a brilliant 66 off 94 balls - his maiden Test fifty - and shared a 107-run stand with Jaiswal.
Jaiswal went on to score 118, aided by England’s poor catching. While Shubman Gill (11) and Karun Nair (17) didn’t last long, contributions from Ravindra Jadeja (53), Dhruv Jurel (34), and Washington Sundar (53 off 46) helped India post a strong 396 on a tricky pitch.
England’s chase began steadily as Zak Crawley (14) and Ben Duckett (34*) put on 50 runs for the first wicket. But Mohammed Siraj produced a brilliant inswinging yorker to remove Crawley just before stumps, setting the stage for a thrilling Day 4.
India need 9 wickets. England require 324 runs.
After rain interruptions on the first two days, Day 3 offered some relief with uninterrupted play at The Oval. However, the forecast for Day 4 suggests we might not be as lucky.
There’s a 40–50% chance of rain, especially during the afternoon hours, which could lead to some delays and loss of overs. The morning is expected to be dry, offering a window for India’s bowlers to make early inroads.
Despite the threat of rain, the overall outlook remains positive for a result, especially with Day 5 still in the bank. The conditions will remain overcast and cool, with temperatures ranging between 18 to 22°C. Humidity levels are expected to hover around 70%.