Key events
Jadeja is out LBW to Tongue – but he’s reviewed and I think it’ll be overturned.
66th over: India 276-6 (Jadeja 22, Jurel 1) The wicket leads to a change of plan from England: Root off, Atkinson on. The new batter Jurel is sent back by Jadeja and has to scramble to make his ground; Duckett’s throw missed the stumps but I’m pretty sure he would have been safe.
“This is gone innit?” says Phil Harrison. “Shame. Still, silver linings yet? We now know that Atkinson can make an impression against players a level above the ones he’s faced so far. We know that Tongue has got something, even if he keeps it incredibly well hidden sometimes. And we know that Overton really hasn’t.”
Overton has been a bit unlucky, I think, though I wouldn’t have selected him and it won’t be a surprise if he becomes a two-Test wonder.
65th over: India 273-6 (Jadeja 20, Jurel 0) Are England still in this game? I honestly have no idea.
WICKET! India 273-6 (Jaiswal c J Overton b Tongue 118)
A strength can be a weakness. Yashasvi Jaiswal has fallen to what has been his favourite shot in this innings, cutting Tongue straight down the throat of Overton at deep backward point. He walks to a fully deserved ovation after making a superb, probably matchwinning 118 from 164 balls.
64th over: India 272-5 (Jaiswal 118, Jadeja 19) Jaiswal blasts Root towards extra cover, where Duckett dives to make a good stop. Root has started economically, with two overs for a single. Sooner rather than later, however, he is going downtown.
63rd over: India 271-5 (Jaiswal 118, Jadeja 18) Jaiswal tries to uppercut a wide short ball from Tongue, so wide that he can’t reach it. He gets an orthodox cut away for a couple later in the over, with Overton sliding to save the boundary. England’s three quick bowlers will struggle to feel their legs tomorrow morning.
62nd over: India 268-5 (Jaiswal 116, Jadeja 17) Well I’ll be dipped in dipping: Joe Root is coming on to bowl for the first time in the match. You feel like Jaiswal has waited all day for this… but he starts by playing out a maiden from Root. There was only one big shot which he mistimed; there will be more to come.
61st over: India 268-5 (Jaiswal 116, Jadeja 17) An inswinger from Tongue to Jadeja goes down the leg side for five byes. India are winning the Extras War hands down: they lead 61-11 across the whole game.
“On the subject of penalising fielding sides that consistently fall behind the over rate,” begins Kim Thonger. “How about simply limiting bowler run ups until the over rate is back to where it should be?”
Couldn’t we make the bowlers wear clown shoes until they catch up, then go to a public vote?
60th over: India 263-5 (Jaiswal 115, Jadeja 17) Jadeja flashes a short ball from Overton over the solitary slip for four, then steers a dreadful delivery to the same part of the boundary. England’s seamers look shattered.
“Robster!” says Simon McMahon, who sounds like he might be high on sausage and cider. “Is there anything better than a Saturday afternoon at a sausage and cider festival a series deciding Oval Test match? All results still possible, and both teams going hard at it. Who’s your money on? Can England chase 350?”
I’m not willing to discuss the result of this series but my sources tell me I should listen out for one particular name on Sunday evening: Desmond.
59th over: India 255-5 (Jaiswal 115, Jadeja 9) A bowling change, but there’s still no sign of the part-time spinners. Josh Tongue – who has bowled 19 overs in the innings and 35 in the match – replaces Atkinson and starts with two deliveries down the leg side to Jadeja. He gets his line right thereafter and the only run comes a thick inside-edge by Jadeja. India lead by 232.
58th over: India 254-5 (Jaiswal 115, Jadeja 8) Thanks Tanya, hell- oh there’s another dropped catch. Jaiswal fences Overton to the left of Duckett at leg slip; he can’t hang on to a very tough low chance and the ball runs away for four. That’s the sixth dropped catch of the innings.
Overton follows up with a hooping yorker that is well defended by Jaiswal.
57th over: India 246-5 (Jaiswal 109, Jadeja 6) Pope is off again, communing with his overlord(s). Jadeja plays and misses at Atkinson, then four byes evade Jamie Smith, who has had a busy time behind the stumps. And here comes DRINKS, so I will hand over to Rob, who will expertly take you through to the close. Thanks for your company – bye!
56th over: India 239-5 (Jaiswal 109, Jadeja 2) Jadeja drives Overton with a tonk to pick up a couple, Jaiswal ignore the last juicy offering as it whispers in his ear.
55th over: India 234-5 (Jaiswal 108, Jadeja 1) Replays show that wicket-taking ball from Atkinson taking off like a jumping jack. And a sudden mood changer as Jaiswal takes a step forward and fires Atkinson through the covers for four – with feeling. Clutches his back leg in sudden, cramping pain afterwards.
WICKET! Karun Nair c Smith b Atkinson 17 (India 225-5)
Done by some extra bounce from Atkinson, and Smith holds on! Huge relief for the Crawley-Brook axis and Karun, who never quite settled, shuffles off.
54th over: India 225-4 (Jaiswal 104, Karun 13) Oh my: catch number five goes down for England, in the slips again. Karun is squared up by Overton, Crawley dives delicately left and gets right in the eyeline of Brook, who watches the ball, but lets it slip through his fingers. Karun gets a life on 12.
53rd over: India 224-4 (Jaiswal 104, Karun 12) Nair still nervous, drives Atkinson with hasty abandon. “England regretting going into consecutive Tests without a spinner.” Ooof Adam Roberts, that’s a bit much after lunch. I am looking forward to Rehan Ahmed playing an Ashes Test or two though.
52nd over: India 221-4 (Jaiswal 104, Karun 9) Tongue gets a rest, Overton takes his turn on the merry-go-round. Another four zips fine on leg side. The lights are on at The Oval, though most of the crowd are still in short sleeves. A shadow of a ghostly Chris Woakes drifts past the dressing-room window.
A hundred for Jaiswal!
51st over: India 216-4 (Jaiswal 100, Karun 9) And there it comes, with a single – his fourth Test century against England. He jumps for joy, pulls off his helmet and gloves, dumps them on the ground, blows kisses to the balcony, and sends them a love heart. Goes back for a hug with Karun Nair, and then remembers he needs to re-gather his equipment. Karun tickles Atkinson for four round the corner.
50th over: India 209-4 (Jaiswal 97, Karun 5) Crawley is sent to wait for the upper cut. Jaiswal darts, nervously flittish, at Tongue. Time for some calming words from the dressing room tucked in a new pair of gloves. A misdirected bouncer, well half-stopped by SMith.
49th over: India 205-4 (Jaiswal 95, Karun 5) A single, that has to be quick thanks to a smart pick up and throw by Pope. An unconvincing four off the glove for Karun, past the leaping Smith. Then Karun is hit on the front pad. He’s oozing awkward teenager at a party. Good stuff from Atkinson.
48th over: India 200-4 (Jaiswal 94, Karun 1) A full-throated lbw appeal by Tongue, going legside, then a juicy floater which Jaiswal cuts to the rope. I remember Sharda Ugra telling me that the young Indian players all had immaculately cultivated beards as modelled by Virat Kohli. Now Gill and Jaiswal are clean shaven, there might be a new breed of less hirsute players coming through. Anyway, Jaiswal hiccups into the 90s.
47th over: India 193-4 (Jaiswal 87, Karun 1) Jaiswal has a hasty flash at a ball on a good length from Atkinson. He misses and Smith catches, surprised by the speed, tumbling onto his backside. Then Jaiswal plumps for the ramp and misses again – England should make the most of this nervous eighties.
Too many emails to print about Pope looking for guidance from above, as the man himself directs his field.
46th over: India 192-4 (Jaiswal 86, Karun 1) Tongue from the Vauxhall end. Karun drives loosely and misses his first ball by a sneeze. Then a nasty bouncer that Karun ducks. Harry Brook bites his nails at slip. India must rebuild.
45th over: India 190-4 (Jaiswal 85, Karun 0) England start with a prolonged huddle, and Atkinson with an on-the-money full nip-backer which smacks Gill on the front pad. So he finishes tamely after a magnificent series – 754 runs at an average of 74. Atkinson greets Karun Nair with a shortish ball that he makes a horlicks of, shrinks into, and gets hit on the hand. The post-lunch over that England ordered.
WICKET! Gill lbw Atkinson 11 (India 189-4)
First ball! The umpire takes an age to make his mind up but eventually raises his finger. It looks very out, but Gill reviews… no bat on ball and ball tracking sends him merrily on his way, hitting the top of off stump.
A fabulous segment on walking cricket on Sky. My own dad has taken it up at 78 and he is absolutely in love with it, having thought he’d never play again. Rob Smyth wrote a really nice piece about it last year. If you’re thinking about it, do take the plunge.
“Since Ben Stokes has a busted right shoulder and Chris Woakes a busted left shoulder, perhaps England should consider gaffer-taping them together to make a complete functional cricketer?” types Matthew Lawrenson. “Nothing seems too outlandish in BazWorld these days.”
How about Stokes’s heart, Archer’s speed, Josh Hull’s youth, Mark Wood’s yorker… help me out here.
A potted highlights at lunch – what an awesome series this has been. But on a more mircro level, Stuart Broad thinks England should park Joe Root at one end after lunch and see what happens. He is, adds Broad, the leading Test wicket taker for England on the pitch.
India’s session – as weary England troop off. They are missing Chris Woakes, and the dropped catch didn’t help either morale or the Test equation. Akash Deep provided bonus runs and India start after lunch with the dangerous Gill and Jaiswal hungry for more. I’m going to grab something to eat, back shortly.
Lunch – India lead by 165
44th over: India 189-3 (Jaiswal 85, Gill 11) The last over before lunch. Tongue the bowler, Gill leans in and drives a tired ball through the covers for a four delicious enough to be served up in The Oval’s swanky balcony restaurant. Jaiswal gets a sudden attack of cramp to to ensure there are no more overs, but it seems to have resolved itself as he walks off the field. England have a few gentle words in his ear.
43rd over: India 181-3 (Jaiswal 84, Gill 4) Gill shakes gloves and exchanges grins, with Akash Deep as the two pass – Akash Deep to huge applause. Gill gets off the mark with a waft of the wand at a short wide ball from Overton – four. Next ball, Overton follows through almost to Gills’ boots, giving him a stern look. Gill smiles boyishly back.
WICKET! Akash Deep c Atkinson b Overton 66 (India 177-3)
At last! A leading edge which balloons up and Atkinson gulps it down at backward point.
42nd over: India 177-2 (Jaiswal 84, Akash Deep 66) On India plough – the hundred partnership comes up, in which Akash Deep has outscored Jaiswal two to one, as Akash Deep edges past a diving Duckett at gully. Then a top edged pull over the keeper for four more. Pope breathes a deep breath of exasperation. Tongue wipes his brow. Then a stolen single.
41st over: India 167-2 (Jaiswal 83, Akash Deep 57) The Oval has clouded over. Overton thunders in again, his shirt looks like it has had a boil wash too many. Oooof, Akash Deep edges a nice ball through third slip and gully, and down to the rope. Overton brings both hands to his head. Four byes to finish the over, as the ball takes off and flies legside past Jamie Smith.
