Siraj redeems himself from Lord's heartbreak with match-winning wicket at Oval; watch video

Yet another five-match Test series between England and India ended in a 2-2 draw, only this time it was the Indian team pulling off a series-leveling victory, resulting in the inaugural Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy being shared by the two teams. Three years after England chased down 378 in dominant fashion at Edgbaston to herald the dawn of the ‘Bazball Era’, India pulled off a remarkable fightback at The Oval while defending a similar target, winning by just six runs to ensure the honours were shared at the end of a remarkable series.

Here’s the magical moment in which Siraj castled Atkinson with a searing in-swinging yorker that resulted left the off stump lying flat on the ground:

It was the perfect comeback for Siraj, who had suffered a heartbreak in the same city last month after getting clean bowled by Shoaib Bashir in the third Test at Lord’s .

All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and the Indian lower-order had put up an admirable fight during the team’s chase of a tricky 193-run target at the ‘Home of Cricket’ when Siraj blocked a delivery from the off-spinner, only to watch it roll towards the stumps and dislodge the bail in horror.

The dismissal sealed a thrilling 22-run victory for England, allowing the hosts to go 2-1 up in the five-Test series. India, however, would fight hard for a draw in the fourth Test in Manchester before Siraj’s heroics sealed a dramatic victory at the Oval.

Siraj, Prasidh snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at The Oval

Shubman Gill thus began his tenure as Test captain with a drawn series in England, where India have not won a Test series since 2007 and have only emerged triumphant thrice in nearly a century. That, however, would not have been possible without an incredible fightback by pacers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna from a near hopeless position.

England, after all, were cruising at 301/3 with Harry Brook and Joe Root having smashed centuries and added 195 for the fourth wicket, and appeared set to collect a 3-1 series victory. Akash Deep, however, broke the partnership by removing Brook before Prasidh struck twice in successive overs to leave England at 339/6, with bad light and rain forcing early stumps.

Siraj would then run through the English lower order, collecting three of the four English wickets that fell on the final day of the series including that of Gus Atkinson, who was the last man to fall. Atkinson nearly got England home after an injured Chris Woakes walked out to bat with his left arm in a sling, but it was the latter’s sheer brilliance and determination that ultimately prevailed.

Siraj thus finished with figures of 5/104 , collecting his fifth Test five-for on the final day of the series finale, and also finished with match figures of 9/190, which earned him the Player of the Match award.