In a stunning turn of events on Day 3 at The Oval, Mohammed Siraj produced a moment of pure brilliance to dismiss England opener Zak Crawley with a scorching yorker. Just when the day appeared to be over, Siraj unleashed a stunning ball that broke Crawley’s off stump, sending shockwaves through the England camp and reigniting India’s attack in the last Test.
The dismissal was a double bluff, with Siraj setting Crawley up for the short ball, loading the field with bouncers, and then unleashing a thunderbolt of a yorker that surprised the batsman.
The ball went beneath the bat and slammed into the off stump, giving India a key breakthrough. Only three balls earlier, Crawley had halted Siraj’s run-up citing sight-screen concerns, which brought back memories of his time-wasting antics at Lord’s, an episode that had sparked widespread outrage.
As Siraj’s delivery demolished Crawley’s defence, the Indian team erupted in wild celebration. The team’s feelings exploded with relief and delight following a hard, exhausting day on the field. But in a more subdued setting, the moment’s effect was clear and powerful.
Dinesh Karthik’s Live Reaction Becomes a Talking Point
Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik was sitting next to commentator Mel Jones in the Sky Sports Cricket studio as the drama of the last over played out. The post-day show was about to start taping when Siraj’s miracle happened. Trying to control his excitement, Karthik wriggled in his chair and gripped the armrests.
Even though Karthik was tempted to join the fans at home in celebrating, he kept the composure expected of a broadcaster. As Mel Jones called the dismissal live, he stayed professional, reacting with a cool demeanor that didn’t go unnoticed.
“This is purely nerves, what Zak Crawley went through. As a batter, when you have batted so hard and all you want to do is get past the last over and walk into the dressing room being not out, you tend to go into a shell and you’re not committed into a shot. It’s a mistake a lot of batters have made in the past,” said Karthik, offering expert insight.
Fans quickly noticed Karthik’s restraint. A popular comment on the video highlighted his self-control, “DK almost wanted to jump in the air with all the joy when siraj bowled out crawley but DK superbly resist himself and just shaking the leg,” a viewer wrote.
Jaiswal and Washington Set the Stage Before Siraj’s Strike
Earlier in the day, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s fluent century and Washington Sundar’s rapid fifty lifted India to 396 in their second innings. Their efforts set England a daunting target of 374 with just over two days remaining — a task made harder by Siraj’s late strike.
With the ball reversing and the pitch showing signs of wear, India’s hopes of levelling the series received a major boost. And thanks to both Siraj’s lethal accuracy and Karthik’s graceful restraint, the drama off and on the field made Day 3 unforgettable.
