LONDON: England took two early wickets in the fifth and deciding Test against India at the Oval on Thursday, with the tourists 72-2 when a downpour led to an early lunch on the opening day.
Sai Sudharsan (25 not out) and prolific captain Shubman Gill (15 not out) then held firm in a match India must win to end a gripping series all square at 2-2.
Ollie Pope, leading England in place of injured captain Ben Stokes, won the toss on his Surrey home ground and unsurprisingly elected to field first in overcast conditions and on a green-tinged pitch.
It was not long before recalled Surrey paceman Gus Atkinson, one of four changes to the England team following last week’s drawn third Test at Old Trafford, had opener Yashasvi Jaiswal lbw for two.
England, however, had to overturn umpire Ahsan Raza’s original not out decision — the first time Pope had succeeded with a review as caretaker captain.
