London, Aug 4: In a heart-stopping finale to the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, India edged past England by just six runs at The Oval to level the five-match Test series 2-2. The fifth Test, which had all the makings of a classic, saw India claw back from the brink of defeat on Day 5, thanks to a fiery spell from Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.

England began the final day needing only 57 runs with four wickets in hand. With Joe Root (105) and Harry Brook (111) having laid a strong foundation, the hosts looked poised for victory. But India’s pace duo had other plans. Siraj struck early, removing Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton, while Krishna dismissed Josh Tongue and the dangerous Root, who had just completed his 39th Test century.

The turning point came after a rain delay on Day 4, which allowed India to regroup and take advantage of overcast conditions. England collapsed from 339/6 to 367 all out, falling agonizingly short of the 374-run target.

India’s second innings had been powered by Yashasvi Jaiswal’s century and solid contributions from Akash Deep and Ravindra Jadeja. Despite a modest first-innings total of 224, India’s resilience and tactical brilliance turned the tide.

This victory not only salvaged the series but also underscored India’s fighting spirit and depth in bowling. The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, named after two legends of the game, delivered a fittingly dramatic conclusion.