Gus Atkinson's Five-for Wrecks India as Visitors Collapse for 224 in Fifth Test

Gus Atkinson's Five-for Wrecks India as Visitors Collapse for 224 in Fifth Test

England pacer Gus Atkinson delivered a scintillating performance on his return to the side, claiming 5 for 33 as India were bowled out for a modest 224 in their first innings on the second morning of the fifth Test at The Oval. Atkinson’s fourth Test five-wicket haul came at a crucial time, especially after England lost Chris Woakes to a suspected dislocated shoulder suffered on day one.

India began the day on 204 for 6, but their innings unraveled quickly as they lost their final four wickets for just 20 runs in under five overs — a collapse of 4 for 6 in 18 balls.

Josh Tongue provided the initial breakthrough, dismissing Karun Nair for 57 with a delivery that nipped in sharply to trap the right-hander plumb in front. Nair’s decision to review the lbw call proved futile, leaving India with only two reviews and a vulnerable lower order.

Just five deliveries later, Washington Sundar fell into a short-ball trap set by Atkinson, mistiming a pull to deep square leg where Jamie Overton took a sharp catch running in from the boundary.

Atkinson then cleaned up the tail with ruthless efficiency, bowling Mohammed Siraj and forcing Prasidh Krishna to edge behind. The rapid end to the innings left India with the lowest first-innings score of the series — their previous low being 358 at Manchester.

The 26-year-old Atkinson, playing on his home ground at The Oval, now averages 21 in Test cricket and holds the second-best strike rate (34.9) for any England bowler with 60 or more wickets — a remarkable statistic that underlines his growing impact at the international level.

With India failing to capitalise on their promising position overnight, England now hold the momentum in the final Test of what has been a closely contested series.

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