Heading into the final day of the Oval Test – numbers held utmost significance. 291 – the number of runs England wished to tug off the record highest chase on the venue, and 10 – the wickets India had to seize back the lead they had attained at Lord's.
Given the nature of the pitch on offer – as flat as a roller – any of the 3 consequences have been possible, however, withinside the end, it was India, who thru their bowlers, made the ball leap and nip around and dismiss England for 210 to win the fit by 157 runs. Umesh Yadav picked up 3 wickets to go along with his 3 withinside the first innings, supported well through Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur.
England, who had reached 77/0 safely at stumps on Day 4, wished their batsmen to hold on, and as play resumed at the very last day, it appeared to be the case with openers Rory Burns and Haseeb Hammed hitting half-centuries. But the instant their 100-run partnership was broken, the wheels got here off.
From dropping wickets withinside the commencing session, Jadeja, Bumrah, Umesh and Thakur derailed England with six wickets among lunch and tea. And as play entered the very last session, it was most effective a matter of times.