Akash Deep finally managed to dismiss England’s opening batsman Ben Duckett on Day 2 of the fifth and final Test at the Oval, London, much to his satisfaction. After India was bowled out for 224 in their first innings, Duckett and Crawley launched an aggressive counterattack, hitting a series of inventive shots like reverse ramps and scoops. Their relentless assault put pressure on India’s bowlers, including Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, and Prasidh Krishna, who all conceded runs freely.
Despite the onslaught, Akash Deep struck back by dismissing Duckett for 43 runs during the 13th over. Duckett attempted another risky reverse scoop but edged the ball to wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, who took a straightforward catch. This wicket ended the strong opening partnership between Crawley and Duckett, which had put on 92 runs for the first wicket.
Notably, this was the fourth time Akash Deep has dismissed Duckett in Test cricket. His delivery that led to the wicket was a well-pitched ball that moved away slightly, catching Duckett off guard as he went for a shot that had worked earlier but ultimately led to his downfall.
