England took control of the fifth Test at The Oval with a breathtaking display of pace and aggression on the second morning. Gus Atkinson’s explosive five-wicket haul dismantled India’s lower order before openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett launched a ruthless counterattack with the bat. By lunch, England had reached 109 for 1, trailing India by just 115 runs.
Atkinson Unleashes Damage Early
India resumed the day at 204 for 6, but their innings crumbled rapidly under pressure from England’s pace attack. Gus Atkinson, playing his first Test in two months, struck with precision. He removed three of the final four wickets, wrapping up India’s innings at 224 in just 21.4 overs.
Atkinson’s final figures stood at 5 for 33—his fourth five-wicket haul in Tests. His fiery spell was all the more vital as England missed Chris Woakes, who was ruled out due to a suspected dislocated shoulder suffered in the field the night before.
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Tongue Breaks Through
Josh Tongue made the initial breakthrough on day two. Despite conceding nine runs in his first over, he struck gold in his second. A sharp delivery darted back into Karun Nair, who had anchored India with 57. The ball pinned him plumb in front. Nair burned one of India’s reviews, but the decision stood.
India’s Lower Order Collapses
From there, the collapse accelerated. Washington Sundar fell just five balls later. Trying to counterattack, he walked into a short ball trap set by Atkinson and pulled straight into the hands of Jamie Overton at deep square leg.
Atkinson wasn’t done. He uprooted Mohammed Siraj’s stumps next, and Prasidh Krishna nicked off chasing a ball outside off. India lost four wickets for just six runs in 18 deliveries, capping a dramatic collapse.
Atkinson’s performance improved his Test bowling average to 21. He now holds the second-best strike rate in England’s history (34.9) among bowlers with 60 or more Test wickets.
Crawley and Duckett Launch Counterattack
With the ball doing damage, England’s batters followed up in style. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett came out firing, adding 92 runs in just 77 balls before Duckett fell for a brisk 43.
Duckett lit up the morning with fearless strokeplay. He reverse-pulled Akash Deep over the slips, then ramped Mohammed Siraj into the boundary cushions for the match’s first two sixes. He was caught going for a third big shot, with Akash Deep sharing a lighthearted moment as he dismissed the left-hander.
Crawley Anchors with Flair
Crawley played second fiddle in the early assault but soon found his rhythm. He raced to his third fifty of the series in just 42 deliveries. His knock included 12 boundaries—some driven along the ground and others lofted stylishly over cover. Crawley remained unbeaten on 52 at lunch, alongside Ollie Pope on 12.
The England opener has now crossed fifty 24 times in Test cricket. His continued form, including an 84 in the previous match, has cemented his role at the top of the order.
Momentum Shifts Swiftly
England’s ability to seize momentum has defined this session. Atkinson’s destruction of the Indian tail gave them an early edge. The attacking partnership of Crawley and Duckett ensured that advantage was maximized before lunch.
India’s bowlers, already under pressure, were punished for every small mistake. England’s batters showed no hesitation in capitalizing, keeping the scoring rate high and the pressure constant.
What’s Next?
With the deficit reduced to 115 and nine wickets in hand, England now holds the upper hand in this deciding match. India will need quick breakthroughs in the afternoon session to claw their way back into the game.
If Crawley continues in the same vein and the middle order builds on this explosive platform, England could secure a dominant first-innings lead and put India firmly on the back foot.
