Mohammed Siraj delivered a telling blow late on Day 3 of the ongoing Test at The Oval, knocking over Zak Crawley with a searing yorker to leave England on the back foot in pursuit of a daunting 374-run target.

England closed the day at 50 for 1, still trailing by 324 runs, with opener Ben Duckett unbeaten on a fluent 34. But it was Siraj’s final-over breakthrough, and the manner in which it came, that left the biggest impression as India ended the day firmly in control.

Crawley, known for his frustrating delay tactics throughout the series, appeared to repeat those antics once again. With only a few balls left in the day, the England opener backed away mid-run-up just as Siraj steamed in to deliver, a moment that drew a wry smile from Shubman Gill in the slips. This time, there were no words or confrontations, only a knowing grin, in stark contrast to the animated exchanges that had marred the Lord’s Test earlier in the series.