India's Mohammed Siraj, right, and Dhruv Jurel celebrate their win against England on day five of the fifth cricket test match between England and India at The Kia Oval in London, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
England's Chris Woakes, right, run between the wickets to score on day five of the fifth cricket test match between England and India at The Kia Oval in London, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
India's Mohammed Siraj, right, and Dhruv Jurel celebrate their win against England on day five of the fifth cricket test match between England and India at The Kia Oval in London, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
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England's Chris Woakes, right, run between the wickets to score on day five of the fifth cricket test match between England and India at The Kia Oval in London, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
LONDON (AP) — India won the fifth test from England by just six runs at the Oval after taking the last four wickets in a thrilling hour on Monday.
India drew the series 2-2 with a test victory by its smallest ever margin on runs.
England began a drizzly morning needing 35 runs to reach the winning target of 374 and clinch the series 3-1. England had an entire fifth and final day to get there.
But in a tension-filled 53 balls of action, Mohammed Siraj took three wickets to finish with five for the innings, and Prasidh Krishna took the other.
With England down to one wicket remaining, allrounder Chris Woakes came out to bat one-handed with a dislocated left shoulder and was greeted by a standing ovation from a sell-out Oval crowd.
He was protected from facing a ball by Gus Atkinson but Atkinson couldn't hold off Siraj and was the last man out, bowled under his attempted sweep by a Siraj full toss. England was all out for 367.
Siraj ran off with arms out in airplane mode. India took time out of its on-field celebrations to go up to Woakes and praise his boldness.
Only 35 runs were needed but both teams managed to pack in a spectacle in the drizzle with the Oval lights on.
No. 8 batter Jamie Overton started it with boundaries off the first two balls, a pull and a cut.
Then Jamie Smith, England's last recognized batter, nicked the seventh ball of the day and was caught behind with 27 runs still needed. The next ball by Siraj was also edged by Atkinson but didn't carry to the slips.
Two overs later, Overton was caught plumb trying to defend Siraj's wobble ball. Reviews showed it would have clipped leg stump.
No. 10 batter Josh Tongue overturned being given out in the same over. The runs needed was down to 20 with two wickets left.
India didn't take the second new ball as the bowlers were making the old ball still work.
Then Tongue was yorkered by Krishna with 17 needed, bringing out Woakes.
He dislocated his shoulder while fielding on the first day Thursday and took no further part in the match. But as the test looked like going to the wire on Sunday, he batted in the nets to see how he'd fare. He walked out on Monday morning with his left arm in a sling tucked under his jersey to bat one-handed.
Atkinson farmed the strike to protect his teammate.
When Atkinson swept Siraj, the ball popped out of Akash Deep's hands and over the cow corner boundary for a six, to reduce the runs required to 11.
Woakes ran a bye in agony to get off strike for the next over and Atkinson hit another single to take guard for a third consecutive over, but his plan was upended by Siraj, and India's party started.
