London, Aug 4 (TheTrendingPeople) — In a sensational finish at The Oval, India edged out England by six runs to level the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series 2-2, with former England spinner Monty Panesar calling it the most thrilling Test contest since the iconic 2005 Ashes series.
India’s pace spearhead Mohammed Siraj led a dramatic turnaround on the final morning, picking up a fiery five-wicket haul that powered the visitors to a nail-biting victory. England, who began Day 5 at 339/6 needing just 35 runs to win, collapsed under pressure, losing their last four wickets for just 28 runs.
Panesar, reflecting on the pulsating finale, said, “It’s a famous victory for India. They played brilliant cricket. Yesterday, when Joe Root and Harry Brook were batting, it looked like the game was slipping away. But the conditions this morning suited India, and they made a bold decision by not taking the new ball. Siraj was phenomenal with the old ball, and Krishna bowled with great control. This series, in terms of drama and quality, is probably the most exciting since the 2005 Ashes.”
Praising India’s performance throughout the series, he added, “We’ll definitely see more five-Test series between England and India in the future. India probably played the better cricket overall, and the excitement throughout has been absolutely top-notch.”
Mohammed Siraj, who was the only fast bowler to feature in all five Tests, delivered a match-winning spell of 5/104 in 30.1 overs. Alongside him, Prasidh Krishna supported with 4/126 in 27 overs, including the crucial wickets in the tense final moments.
Their combined effort helped India snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, with the six-run win now recorded as the narrowest margin of victory by runs in India’s Test history.
Siraj was deservingly named Player of the Match for his spirited performance in the absence of lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah. His sustained aggression and control throughout the series proved crucial to India’s comeback.
The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, introduced for the first time this series, now ends on a 2-2 deadlock, offering fans a gripping spectacle and reaffirming the growing intensity of the England-India Test rivalry.