India turned a first-innings deficit into a 52-run advantage by the end of day two of the fifth Test against England at The Oval, thanks to a stroke-filled half-century from Yashasvi Jaiswal.
A bowler-dominated day saw 15 wickets tumble on an unpredictable surface, but batters who took chances often saw them pay off.
Jaiswal, who was dropped twice, reached an unbeaten 51 off just 49 balls, leading India to 75-2 in their second innings before poor light ended play early.
The day started with India’s first innings being wrapped up in under half an hour. Resuming at 204-6, they were all out for 224 after adding just 20 runs in 5.4 overs.
England’s opening pair, Ben Duckett and Zac Crawley, came out aggressively, racing to nearly 100 runs in only 13 overs. However, India fought back and dismissed England for 247, limiting their first-innings lead to 23 runs.
England was already facing a setback after it was confirmed that allrounder Chris Woakes would miss the remainder of the match due to a shoulder injury sustained on Thursday.
Unlike the rain-affected fourth Test at Old Trafford, this match is heading toward a definite result. England, ahead 2-1 in the series, is chasing a series win, while India aims to level the series with a second victory.
Atkinson Stars with Five Wickets
Gus Atkinson, returning to England’s lineup after recovering from a hamstring injury, was the standout bowler with 5-33 in 22 overs—his fourth five-wicket haul in first-class cricket and his first in Tests at The Oval. He cleaned up the tail after Josh Tongue removed Karun Nair for 57 and Washington Sundar for 26. Tongue finished with 3-57.
India’s total of 224 initially seemed underwhelming but looked worse as Duckett and Crawley dominated. They powered past 50 runs in just the seventh over, with Duckett striking two sixes.
Their 92-run partnership ended when Duckett attempted a reverse scoop and edged behind off Akash Deep for 43. Notably, Deep put a consoling arm around Duckett before a teammate intervened.
Crawley continued aggressively, smashing 14 boundaries in a 64-run innings before miscuing a pull shot off Prasidh Krishna.
From a strong 129-2 position, England collapsed. Krishna and Mohammed Siraj turned the tide with the older ball, extracting movement and bounce.
Joe Root resisted briefly but fell for 29, trapped by Siraj, who also removed stand-in captain Ollie Pope for 22. Harry Brook tried to replicate the early onslaught but with greater risk.
Without Woakes, England’s lower order offered little resistance. Jacob Bethell, playing in Ben Stokes' absence, was yorked by Siraj for 6. Brook, who top-scored with 53 from 64 balls, was the last man out, chopping on against Siraj.
Siraj took 4-86, while Krishna finished with 4-62, giving India a fighting chance.
India’s Second Innings
Jaiswal came out attacking, immediately putting pressure on England. An edge through the slips that flew past Brook turned into his fifth boundary off Atkinson in just the fifth over, and it also gave India the lead.
His partner, KL Rahul, took 28 balls to score 7 before edging to first slip off Tongue.
Jaiswal had a second reprieve on 40 when Liam Dawson dropped him at deep fine leg.
Sai Sudharsan fell for 11 to a low shooter from Atkinson, which turned out to be the last over of the day as fading light forced an early stumps, with 15 overs still to be bowled.