Yashasvi Jaiswal makes sparkling hundred with Mohammed Siraj striking with last ball of day as India look to tie series.
Published On 2 Aug 2025
Yashasvi Jaiswal loves playing against England’s cricketers.
India’s 23-year-old opening batter struck his fourth test century against England, and his sixth overall, to put the visitors firmly in control on Day Three of the fifth and final Test at the Oval on Saturday.
Jaiswal had his fair share of luck, though, as he gave his side an excellent chance of tying the series 2-2.
He was dropped three times on his way to 118, his second hundred of the series, as he helped India pile up 396 in its second innings to set England a daunting victory target of 374.
England, which has developed a knack for chasing down sizeable fourth-innings totals since Brendon McCullum took over as head coach in 2022 to launch the so-called “Bazball” era, reached stumps on 50-1.
Mohammed Siraj clean bowled Zak Crawley for 14 with a searing yorker from the last ball of the day, leaving Ben Duckett on 34 not out at the other end.
Earlier, the left-handed Jaiswal turned his 127th ball of the innings to point and was celebrating his hundred before he ran the single he needed; leaping, running and shaping his fingers into a heart.
“I had to work really hard in my practice session,” Jaiswal said. “I was thinking, ‘one last push’. I think overall, wherever you play, it is difficult in England. It is not easy on this wicket. We are really confident. We will try our best and see what happens.”
There were also important contributions for India from Akash Deep, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar.
Nightwatchman Akash Deep cut loose for a career-best 66 in a 107-run stand with Jaiswal for the third wicket. Jadeja continued his excellent batting form in the series with 53 and Sundar deli