Jaiswal’s sizzling century ignites India’s dominance, pushing England to the brink at The Oval

On a day that went India’s way from start to finish – England, 50/1 at the close, will require an Oval record-breaking 374 to win – one man’s performance proved the key to that success. Although ably supported by a motley crew of compatriots, it was Yashasvi Jaiswal who has done more than any to tip the game in India’s favour.

Jaiswal had, it could be argued, something of an up-and-down series for India, including more than a few costly errors in the field, but here he bookended the thrilling century made in the first Test at Headingley with a sixth Test match hundred. Not only that but a fourth against England – maintaining his run as a swashbuckling thorn in their side.

Jaiswal’s redemption with a match-defining century

After the aforementioned Headingley hundred, and an excellent 87 in the next Test at Edgbaston, the 23-year-old has endured something of a lean trot in this series, a single somewhat fortuitous 58 his only score of note – with second-innings ducks at Lord’s and Old Trafford thrown in for good measure.

Combine that with more than a couple of dropped catches and various other fielding errors and it had been a slightly mixed series for the left-hander. However on Day Three at The Oval he firmly redressed that balance, swinging the pendulum definitively towards the positive and ensuring he finishes the series with a more than reputable average of 41.10.

Jaiswal was merciless behind square on the offside, with more than two thirds of his runs coming there, England seemingly powerless to prevent him gorging on runs through the region. Once again his proficiency with the cut shot proved to be his greatest ally over the course of his 164-ball knock, the stroke yielding more than 40% of his 118 runs.

England’s fielding woes continue

For all that Jaiswal batted well, England were to some extent something of the architects of their own downfall. The hosts dropped the opener three times over the course of his innings, part of a profligate fielding performance that saw them spill six catches in total – errors which threaten to be the primary factor in a series-levelling defeat.

The costliest of these came on Day Two, Jaiswal had made just 20 when Harry Brook spurned a chance well within his capabilities in the slips, a hard hit cut shot spilled above his head. Arguably the more egregious error came though with him on 40, sub fielder Liam Dawson claiming to have lost the path of a skied pull to backward square leg, but nevertheless getting his hands directly to the ball before it slipped from his grasp.

Ben Duckett would add a third, less expensive, drop with Jaiswal on 110, its significance mostly just being indicative of a wasteful English fielding effort.

India’s supporting cast shines bright

It was however, by no means a one man show for India, Jaiswal received support early on from Akash Deep , who defied a Test match average of 7.46 to together put on with him the only century stand of the match so far. He would finish with a new Test best of 66, more than twice his next highest score, as England’s efforts with the ball on Day Three got off to the worst possible start.

They would end poorly as well, Washington Sundar adding a soul-destroying 39 runs for the final wicket, walloping England’s triumvirate of tired seamers – who nonetheless toiled manfully all day – to all parts of the ground as part of a dynamic 53 from 46 balls, that included four fours and sixes alike.

Earlier Ravi Jadeja ruined his perfect run of no second innings dismissals in the series , but not before he had made 53 – ensuring he finishes the five Tests with an average of 86 – and prolonging England’s misery for much of the day.

In a highly clinical team performance, the star though firmly remained Jaiswal, his hundred another addition to a resume that grows increasingly impressive by the minute.