Siraj bags fifer, India script dramatic final day win at The Oval to level series 2-2

Mohammed Siraj struck thrice as India clinched a dramatic victory on the fifth day of the fifth Test to level the series 2-2.

Indian pacers — Siraj and Prasidh Krishna — fumed in from the off, but Gus Atkinson gave England hope by hanging around, taking them to the verge, just seven runs away. In the 10th over, an hour into the day's play, Siraj clattered his off stump to deliver India a 6-run win.

India had never before won by a margin of fewer than 13 runs, which was at the Wankhede in November 2004 against Australia.

Siraj finished with a fifer (5/104), taking his match returns to 9 wickets, while Prasidh claimed four wickets in each innings.

There were other heroes in the Indian corner. Yashasvi Jaiswal scored his second century of the series with 118 in the second innings to help India to a fighting total of 396. Akash Deep wasn't quite influential with the ball but contributed heavily with the bat, stepping up as a nightwatchman on Day 3 and making a fifty (66) on the penultimate day.

Karun Nair, making a memorable return to the national set after 8 years, scored a fifty (57) in the first innings, his first in Tests.

Earlier, when Day five began, the equation was simple: England needed 35 runs to win, and India had to take four wickets.

Jamie Overton greeted Prasidh Krishna with a pair of boundaries, the second a thickish inside edge, to get the hosts closer to the target.

What followed was nothing short of dramatic.

Over 1
England take 8 runs. Need 27 more. Total: 347/6

Over 2
Mohammed Siraj strikes. Jamie Smith nicks one behind. The Indians appeal, but the umpire isn't sure so the third umpire is asked to look in. The replay confirms a faint edge and Smith walks back. Gus Atkinson arrives, takes a double. England 349/7. Need 25 more

Over 3
Prasidh Krishna fumes in. One close to the body of Overton, another swinging away. Jadeja makes a great effort to prevent a boundary, but 3 conceded. England take 4 off the over. Need 21 more. 

Over 4
Siraj strikes again. Atkinson gone LBW. The umpire raises the finger, but England review. The wobble-seam delivery was indeed clipping the leg stump. England 354/8. Need 20 more.

Over 5
Prasidh Krishna appeals. Out given for LBW but England successfully review. Josh Tongue survives. England need 19 more

Over 6
Siraj steams in. England remain on back foot, just a single taken. 18 more for the hosts to win. 2 wickets for India to rejoice

Over 7
Bullseye. Prasidh rattles the stumps of Tongue. England lose 9th wicket. Its as good as all out because next up in Chris Woakes, out to bat with a hand in a sling. 357/9. 17 to win

Over 8
Atkinson goes after Siraj. Six! Akash Deep so nearly caught it, but the momentum took the ball beyond him for a maximum. Woakes stands at the non-striker's end. England need 11 to win.

Over 9
Prasidh bowls. Atkinson gets a double to keep Woakes off strike. Then he gets a single off the last ball to keep strike. England need 7 more.

Over 10
Siraj to Atkinson. Off stump is gone. Wicket! India win by 6 runs