Siraj swings and delivers

Mohammed Siraj was running in to deliver the first ball of the 86th over at Kennington Oval—his 1113th legitimate ball in what had been a marathon of a Test series between India and England.

- FIROZ MIRZA

Mohammed Siraj was running in to deliver the first ball of the 86th over at Kennington Oval—his 1113th legitimate ball in what had been a marathon of a Test series between India and England. He had already become the leading wicket-taker, having bowled more overs than anyone else across 25 days of play which began at Leeds a few moons ago.

Even the spell he was on started Sunday evening and thanks to rain and bad light interruptions, he had been on 12 overs. This was his 13th. So, he could have been tired. He might not have the same energy or pace. But not Siraj. He woke up on Monday morning telling himself that he should win the game for India. He googled "believe", downloaded his idol Cristiano Ronaldo's picture with the word 'believe' and made it his phone wallpaper. He kept telling himself to believe.

And as he ran, trying to get Gus Atkinson, the last wicket of England, out, Siraj knew he was going to give everything he had got. Siraj delivered a pinpoint yorker, racing at 143 KPH—his fifth-quickest of the 1113 legitimate balls. The result? Everything he had dreamt and manifested and believed. Off-stump went for a toss and Siraj leapt in the air with his trademark Ronaldo celebration, raised his arms aloft and thanked the heavens before being embraced by his teammates.

The 31-year-old pacer from Hyderabad saw India to a memorable series levelling victory, registering yet another fifer.