Images from Day 2 of the fifth Test between England and India at The Oval, London, on Friday
Mohammed Siraj produced a lion-hearted spell and Prasidh Krishna cleaned up the tail to script India's spirited comeback after a brutal assault from England openers on day two of the fifth and final Test in London on Friday.
After a forgettable opening session where Siraj and Co. were taken to the cleaners by Ben Duckett (43 off 38) and Zak Crawley (64 off 57), the Indian pacers redeemed themselves by bowling out England for 247 in the final session, giving the hosts only a slender 23-run lead.
Both Siraj and Prasidh ended with four-wicket hauls.
India lost the reliable K L Rahul (7 off 28) in their second innings to a rare loose shot from the opener. At close, India were 75 for two in 18 overs, leading England by 52 runs.
Yashasvi Jaiswal (51 batting off 49) batted with aggressive intent despite being dropped twice while Sai Sudharsan (11) was trapped in front by Gus Atkinson shortly before stumps.
Jaiswal had got going with three fours in Atkinson's opening over including a sublime straight drive before being given a chance on 20 ad 40. He brought up his third fifty of the series with a ramp off Jamie Overton that went all the way.
Close to stumps, a third catch was dropped when Zak Crawley grassed a regulation chance offered by Sudharsan at third slip.
Before that, England were bowled out in the final session following Harry Brook's belligerent 53 off 64 balls. The highlight of his effort was a falling sweep off Siraj that went all the way for six.
In the afternoon session, Siraj struck thrice in a fiery eight over spell. At tea, England were 215 for seven, effectively eight down with Chris Woakes not available to bat due to a shoulder injury.
The wickets to fall were England's batting mainstay Joe Root (29 off 45), Zak Crawley (64 off 57), stand-in captain Ollie Pope (22 off) and Jacob Bethell (6 off 14).
A heated exchange of words between Root and Prasidh was also among the talking points of the session.
After being blown away by the England opener in the opening session, Indian pacers found their lengths post the break. Prasidh sent back Crawley who mistimed a pull to be pouched at midwicket.
Siraj got rid of Pope and Root with a nip backer before firing an inswinging yorker into Bethell's pads. The pitch continues to provide plenty of assistance to the seamers.
Whether it was targeting the pads with the wobbled seam or producing late swing, Siraj was relentless, displaying that he was not a firm believer of workload management.
Prasidh too was impressive and struck thrice in the session including the wickets of Jamie Smith and Overton at the stroke of tea.
In the morning passage, Crawley and Duckett smashed the Indian pacers with absolute disdain on a seaming surface after bundling out the visitors for 224 in the first half hour of play.
Duckett (43 off 38) and Crawley hit boundaries for fun on a green surface where Atkinson took a deserving wicket haul by removing three Indian batters shortly after play began. The hosts raced to 109 for one in 16 overs at lunch.
The trio of Akash Deep, Siraj and Prasidh ran out of ideas against the onslaught from the England openers. Much to their relief, Duckett was caught behind 15 minutes before lunch attempting another reverse hit off Akash. The opening stand yielded 92 runs off just 77 balls.
It was unusual to see Akash wrap his arm around Duckett and give him a send off with a smile on his face.
Crawley collected five of his 12 fours off Siraj, including a straight drive, punch through the covers and flick towards mid-wicket. He completed his fifty with a boundary in the third man region off Akash.
Duckett deliberately disturbed the pacers' rhythm by dancing down the track at will, using the cut on the charge twice against Akash.
He pulled off a reverse scoop off the pacer before playing a ramp off for a maximum off Siraj soon after.
Pope joined Crawley in the middle and began with a couple of sweetly timed cover drives.
In the first half 30 minutes of play, India lost four wickets for just 20 runs after resuming the day at 204 for six.
Pacer Gus Atkinson grabbed five wickets as India collapsed on the second day morning of the fifth and final Test against England to be bowled out for 224 in their first innings.
Overnight batters Karun Nair (57 off 109)and Washington Sundar (26 off 55) perished in quick succession before Atkinson polished off the tail.
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