Mohammed Siraj Shines on Day 3 of Fifth Test Against England
India’s fast bowler Mohammed Siraj made a significant impact on Day 3 of the fifth Test at the Oval by taking the crucial wicket of Zak Crawley just before stumps. With England set a target of 374 runs in their fourth innings, the openers, Crawley and Ben Duckett, got off to a good start, putting together 50 runs without losing a wicket.
Just two balls away from the close of play, Siraj executed a clever trick. He placed a fielder at deep square leg, leading Crawley to expect a short delivery. Instead, Siraj surprised him with a yorker, which knocked over his stumps. This crucial wicket came at an important moment, giving India a boost as they ended the day on a high note.
Captain Shubman Gill and Siraj’s smart strategy drew praise from teammate Cheteshwar Pujara. Pujara expressed his admiration for the plan, noting, “It was great to see the yorker after Crawley expected a short ball. Outsmarting a batsman feels fantastic for a bowler, and Crawley was caught completely off guard.”
Pujara also commended Siraj for his relentless effort throughout the tour. “He’s dedicated and always puts in the hard work. Bowling long spells overseas isn’t easy, but he remains reliable and gives his all for the team,” he added.
Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar also acknowledged Gill’s tactical approach at the end of the day’s play, stating, “That last move was brilliant—putting a fielder there and bowling a yorker.”
As Day 3 concluded, England found themselves at 50 for 1, needing 324 more runs to win. Earlier, India scored 396 in their second innings, thanks to an impressive century from Yashasvi Jaiswal (118) and fifties from Akash Deep (66), Ravindra Jadeja (53), and Washington Sundar (53).
The stage is set for an exciting Day 4 as both teams look to secure victory.
