DROPS COULD BE SO COSTLY

England in danger of letting series win slip through their fingers

- By Mike Walters

IN THE Bazball theme park, England may have let victory slip through their fingers in The Oval twilight zone.

Defending a slender lead after a white-knuckle ride on the first-innings roller-coaster, they could pay a heavy price for dropping three catches in the final session as a depleted attack fought to keep India within range.

After a breathless day when 15 wickets fell like skittles in a bowling alley, the tourists were 75-2 — leading by 52 runs - in the fifth and final Test.

But England’s cause was not helped by their Edward Scissorhands fumbling, which may prove critical in a relatively low-scoring game defending a 2-1 series lead. Yashasvi Jaiswal, whose brisk half-century carried India into credit, was reprieved on 20 by Harry Brook off Gus Atkinson.

Jaiswal escaped again on 40 when he pulled Josh Tongue straight down substitute fielder Liam Dawson’s throat at long leg.