A series to remember: the Oval drama isn’t over yet

The match isn’t over yet. That’s the real truth. At a time when England was 317-4 at tea, each one of us thought it was now a done deal. The last rites remained, and it was 3-1 in favour of England. India, bafflingly, hadn’t competed despite setting a target of 374 and had turned defensive post lunch when they could have been far more aggressive and innovative. But then what do they know of cricket who only cricket knows? CLR James would be smiling in his grave, seeing the drama that unfolded at the Oval between 5-6 pm local time.

Soon after tea, Jacob Bethell started to look uncertain. For no reason, he was trying to be extra adventurous and gifted his wicket away to the Indians. To charge down the track and get bowled when your team needed less than 50 was a really bad judgment call. It was the opening the Indians needed. A few minutes back, their shoulders had dropped. But now with the wickets of Brook and Bethell, they sensed an outside chance. The bowlers started to run in harder, the captain was all of a sudden more proactive and the fielders more alert.

Shubman Gill, who had allowed the game to drift in the post lunch session, had finally set some real aggressive fields and England wad finding it hard to pinch a single. Maiden overs, which have been a real rarity this game, had made an appearance and all of a sudden, something had to give. It did and India, from nowhere, had managed to get the big wicket of Joe Root. He was the glue that had kept England together and had also kept India at bay. Now there was a clear opening and anything was possible. Had the rain not intervened, things had become fascinating and with the crowd really loud, England had started to feel the pressure.

India will have to do it all over again on the fifth morning. But then India will also have a Mohammed Siraj who would have rested up, a Prasidh Krishna who will know that it is his opportunity to become a hero and most importantly the new ball is just 3 overs due. All through the series the new ball has been a real challenge for the batters and Oval would be no different. So while on the face of it one has to say England are firm favourites, the truth is it is a matter of two good deliveries. You get this wicket and the next and all of a sudden you are into Josh Tongue and a one handed Chris Woakes. Yes two balls separate India from pulling off a heist at the Oval and with the new ball it is possible.