After Gill’s manic run out, Karun fifty shores up India

India were 204/6 on a rain-hit opening day in the fifth Test after pacer Josh Tongue's two quick wickets

- Somshuvra Laha

Four Tests down the line, England finally seemed English at the most unlikely of venues. The pitch had a generous smattering of grass, the skies over the Oval were intimidatingly grey, the outfield was damp and heavy because of passing showers, and the ball was nipping and occasionally climbing as a result.

Perfect conditions to bowl but such has been Shubman Gill’s rotten luck with the toss, he lost the fifth time in a row and India were put into bat. Against an England side without Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer, the visitors were made to toil on a rain-truncated day before Karun Nair put his foot down with a gritty fifty and help India end the first day on 204/6.

Thirty of those runs came by way of extras on a day England's fast bowlers were wayward and also found it difficult to control the wet Dukes ball. But when they had a grip of the ball and the conditions, India suffered. The 45-run partnership between Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan offered a brief respite before the India captain needlessly ran himself out.