Harry Brook struck a scintillating century and Joe Root remained unbeaten on 98 as England surged to 317 for 4 at tea on Day 4, closing in on a record 374-run chase against India in the fifth and final Test at The Oval.
With just 57 runs needed for a remarkable win and a 3-1 series victory, England are on the brink of pulling off one of their most memorable Test triumphs. Root and debutant Jacob Bethell (1*) were at the crease when the teams broke for tea.
The day belonged to Brook and Root, who stitched together a commanding 195-run partnership for the fourth wicket, effectively blunting India’s spirited pace attack. Brook, in particular, was in imperious touch, smashing 111 off just 98 deliveries, a counter-attacking innings laced with flair, timing, and authority.
Brook reached his 10th Test century in only his 50th innings, placing him ninth on the all-time list for quickest to 10 hundreds in terms of innings, a list famously topped by Don Bradman, who reached the milestone in just 23 innings.
Root, anchoring the chase with typical poise and precision, looked set for yet another hundred, his innings marked by elegance and composure under pressure. His unbeaten 98 has come off 141 balls, with strokes all around the wicket and a calm that has steadied England’s chase after early setbacks.
Earlier in the day, England resumed at 50 for 1, needing 324 more runs. They lost Ben Duckett (54) and Ollie Pope in the morning session but remained undeterred. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna picked up a wicket each, but the Indian bowlers struggled to maintain sustained pressure as the pitch flattened and the ball softened.
With momentum firmly in England’s favour and Root nearing a well-deserved century, India’s bowlers face an uphill battle to reverse the tide in what promises to be a gripping final session
Brief scores:
India: 224 & 396
England: 247 & 317/4 in 66 overs (Ben Duckett 54, Harry Brook 111, Joe Root batting 98; Mohammed Siraj 2/91)
