After facing a nightmare start in the Manchester Test with — Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan — wickets for ducks, it looked like England would seal victory within four days. However, what followed turned into one of India's most resilient batting efforts overseas, helping them secure a dramatic draw. As the focus now shifts to The Oval in London for the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, starting Thursday (July 31), India will draw heart from their gritty turnaround in Manchester.
Despite trailing by 311 runs and being reduced to 0/2 in their second innings, the Shubman Gill-led side showed tremendous resolve to keep the series alive.
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On a lifeless pitch at Old Trafford, England amassed 669 in reply to India’s first-innings total of 358. With victory out of reach, the Indian team needed to survive five sessions on a deteriorating surface to avoid a loss.
Veteran KL Rahul (90) and captain Gill (103) provided the foundation with a crucial stand, taking the team safely to stumps without further damage. On the final day, Ravindra Jadeja (107*) and Washington Sundar (101*) displayed superb composure and technique, notching unbeaten centuries and guiding India to safety.
Pitch report
Heading into the series decider, India will be buoyed by the fightback and look to clinch a win to level the series 2-2. The Oval pitch traditionally favors batters, and a recent county match at the venue produced nearly 1,500 runs across both innings.
Historically, the ground has been known for producing high scores, especially during dry spells, as seen in this summer. The average first-innings total at The Oval stands at a healthy 343, though weather conditions may affect how the surface behaves during the match.
London Weather Report
Conditions in London could play a key role. The forecast for Thursday, the opening day, includes overcast skies with humidity and the possibility of afternoon showers. The trend continues with cloudy spells over the next couple of days and more rain predicted for the weekend.
As per Weather.com, Temperatures are expected to hover between 14°C and 24°C, accompanied by winds reaching up to 13 km/h and humidity levels around 88%.
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