DROPS COULD BE SO COSTLY

Match could slip through England's 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 the white-knuckle ride on the first-innings rollercoaster, they could pay a heavy price for dropping three catches in the final session as their 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 final Test.

But England’s cause was not helped by their Edward Scissorhands fumbling, which may prove critical in a relatively low-scoring game.

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 Liam Dawson’s throat at long leg.