Gill run out leaves India flailing in key final test against England

LONDON :The rain-hit first day of the final England-India test saw only six overs bowled between lunch and tea on Thursday but that was enough for visiting captain Shubman Gill to throw away his wicket with a crazy run-out to swing the series further in the home side's favour.

India, needing victory at The Oval to square the series, reached tea on 85-3, but with their two most prolific batsmen already out, and with England's seamers itching for another crack on a wet wicket having failed to take full advantage earlier on, the odds are stacking against the tourists.

The overcast morning conditions had looked ideal for England's all-seam attack, even without injured captain Ben Stokes or rested paceman Jofra Archer, but though they looked lively, the Indian batters were only occasionally troubled.

Recalled Gus Atkinson was England’s sharpest bowler and he struck in the fifth over, trapping Yashasvi Jaiswal LBW as stand-in captain Ollie Pope finally got on the right side of a DRS review after 14 unsuccessful appeals last year.

KL Rahul, with over 500 runs to his name from the first four matches, looked relatively untroubled before playing-on while trying to cut Chris Woakes to depart for 14.

At 38-2, England and a packed Oval crowd sensed an opportunity but Sai Sudharsan, who had been initially very watchful, started to time the ball well as India reached lunch on 72-2 with Gill, averaging over 90 from his previous 722 runs in the series, also looking comfortable.

A heavy shower that caught out the ground staff created more difficult conditions for the tourists in a delayed afternoon session.

However, it was not good bowling but great fielding - combined with suicidal running - that brought Gill's innings to an unexpectedly