England vs India 5th Test Day 1 ball-by-ball commentary at Oval, London

Both sides will enjoy a well-earned break after a gruelling five-match series. England’s home Test summer is done. Next up, they host South Africa for three ODIs and three T20Is in September. Their next red-ball challenge will be the Ashes in Australia later this year. India, meanwhile, shift focus to the Asia Cup next month, followed by a home Test series against West Indies in October. That’s all from us for now, but there’s plenty of cricket to look forward to. The second Test between Zimbabwe and New Zealand begins Thursday, while the ODI series between West Indies and Pakistan starts Friday. On the domestic front, The Hundred kicks off Tuesday. Take care and goodbye!

Since the series has ended in a draw, both Shubman Gill and Ben Stokes will be awarded the Pataudi Medal. Before the presentation, the two skippers stand in front of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy for the customary photographs. Both sides had their 'what could have been' moments across the matches, so a drawn series feels just right. England were the favourites coming into this series and, having led 2-1, had two cracks at closing it out but couldn’t finish the job. India, with a new-look side and a young captain, have punched above their weight and will take great heart from this result.

The skipper of England, Ben Stokes says it’s always difficult when you can’t actively participate in a game, but it was another hard-fought contest that went right down to Day 5. He reflects on what he calls an amazing series to be a part of and admits there's disappointment in not getting over the line. He says he his incredibly proud of his team and would have loved to win the series, but it just wasn’t meant to be. Stokes has high praise for Chris Woakes, saying there was never any question in Woakes’ mind about going out to bat. Adds that it just shows how much it means to these players to represent their country. He also acknowledges the fight shown by India and says he is sure Shubman Gill will be equally proud of how his team battled through. Mentions that India vs England is always a massive series, and emotions inevitably pour out once the game is over the line. Further says that it just shows the passion and desire of everyone who walks out to represent their country. Shares that he is really happy with how it went for him with the ball. Says that rehab starts now for him to get ready for the Ashes in November.

The Indian captain, Shubman Gill, is India's PLAYER OF THE SERIES, adjudged by England coach, Brendon McCullum. He collects the medal and a bottle of champagne from one of the dignitaries and walks up for a chat. He is all smiles and calls the series fantastic. Says every game went into the final day, which shows both sides came with their A-game. Adds that captaincy becomes much easier when you have bowlers like Siraj and Prasidh in the side. Says the way they responded was magnificent. Highlights that they were confident even on Day 4 despite being under the pump. Points that after a couple of wickets fell, they knew England were under pressure. On Siraj, he says he gave his all in every spell he bowled. On being asked whether a 2-2 scoreline reads fair, he agrees that it is a fair reflection and says it shows how passionate both sides were throughout the series. Calls his batting very rewarding and tells that his aim was to be the best batter in the series and feels satisfied to get there. Stresses that it is about sorting things out mentally and technique-wise as well. Says that the biggest learning for him in the last six weeks is to never give up.

Harry Brook is named England's PLAYER OF THE SERIES by India's coach Gautam Gambhir. Brook says they were feeling confident with two set batters at the crease and thought they could easily see it home. He adds that Siraj bowled exceptionally well and deserves all the success for the way he performed under pressure. Says that he expected the pitch to play a bit flatter, although the overcast conditions kept things challenging. He mentions he respects Siraj a lot and credits him for turning the game. Reflecting on Chris Woakes coming out to bat despite his injury, Brook says there was never any doubt that Woakes was going to bat, no matter what. Calls it unfortunate not to cross the line but says that’s just how cricket goes. States that he felt things were going really well and, had they found a couple of big overs before he got out, the game could have been done there itself. Shares that his thought process was to score quickly and bring the target down to around 40.

Mohammed Siraj is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his outstanding performance, picking up 9 wickets in the game (4 in the first innings and 5 in the second). Dinesh Karthik is alongside him to assist with the translation. He says he feels really amazing, and everyone believed from Day 1 that they could win it. Says he kept his plans simple, to hit the right areas and wickets would fall as a bonus. Shares that when he woke in the morning, he believed that he could do it. Also shares that he downloaded a picture from Google, which said 'Believe'. On Brook’s dropped catch, he admits it was a turning point in the match. He concedes that had he taken it cleanly, the game wouldn’t have dragged on this long. Then appreciates Harry Brook for batting really well. He then reflects on the heartbreak at Lord’s. Also shares that Ravindra Jadeja told him to back his instincts and remember his father and do it for him.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

At the start of Day 4, England needed 324 more runs for the win, and India managed to remove Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope in the first 75 minutes. But then the two centurions, Joe Root and Harry Brook, ground India to dust with a 195-run stand. Brook counter-attacked, and during that phase, a crucial moment came when Siraj accidentally stepped on the boundary cushions after taking the catch while Harry was on 19. After Lunch, Brook dialled it down, but England still piled on 153 runs in the afternoon session, leaving the visitors looking flat. After Tea, Prasidh Krishna struck twice in the space of nine balls, removing Bethell and Root, and belief began to grow in the Indian camp. Krishna and Siraj charged in with adrenaline and intensity, with every ball feeling like an event, until bad light and later rain brought the day’s play to an end.

Day 3 saw a drastic shift in conditions, with the surface no longer as green as it had been earlier. India dominated the morning session under bright skies, with nightwatchman Akash Deep going on to register his maiden Test fifty. Dropped on 20 and 40 on Day 2, Yashasvi Jaiswal made England pay by bringing up his second century of the series. To their credit, the hosts responded better in the afternoon session, chipping away at the wickets, with Josh Tongue eventually finishing with a five-wicket haul. However, their hopes of restricting India’s lead to under 350 were dashed by a late assault from Washington Sundar. In their pursuit of 374, England’s start wasn’t as rapid as usual but was steady nonetheless, until Zak Crawley fell in the final over of the day, allowing the tourists to finish Day 3 on a high.

Day 2 began with the English dominance in the morning session as they wrapped up India on 224, with Gus Atkinson completing his 5-fer. Coming to bat, Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley took the Indian seamers apart with a ferocious batting assault, adding 92 runs in no time. Both fell on either side of the Lunch break, triggering a collapse. Harry Brook kept the flame of the fight ignited from one end, but lacked a stable hand at the other end. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna took four wickets each as England slipped from 129/1 to 247 all out, managing only a 23-run lead. In reply, India lost KL Rahul and Sai Sudharsan but Yashasvi Jaiswal stepped up with a brilliant fifty to take India 52 runs ahead by Stumps. England, though, were sloppy in the field as they dropped Jaiswal twice and Sudharsan was also offered a reprieve.

Going back to where it all started, for the fifth consecutive time in the series, England won the toss and, spotting a green surface under overcast skies, Ollie Pope opted to bowl. The opening day had a fragmented rhythm, with rain interruptions breaking the flow time and again. In the passages of play that did unfold, India managed to string together a few partnerships, and several batters got starts, but none could convert, thanks to Gus Atkinson’s disciplined spell that kept the scoring in check. While control from the other end wavered, Josh Tongue stepped up with a couple of absolute jaffas, bagging two prized scalps. England suffered a setback as Chris Woakes walked off with a dislocated left shoulder, leaving them a bowler short. India’s top order crumbled early, and skipper Shubman Gill’s run-out only deepened the damage. But Karun Nair held firm, building steady alliances with Sudharsan and, later, Washington Sundar to steer India to a respectable 204 for 6 at Stumps.

England came into the 25th day of the series needing 35 runs to win, while India required 4 wickets. Jamie Overton kicked things off with a couple of boundaries, the second a bit streaky but valuable all the same, as it knocked 8 runs off the target. But then Mohammed Siraj took over with a brilliant spell, removing both overnight batters, Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton. England’s hopes flickered through Gus Atkinson, and in between, Prasidh Krishna landed another crucial blow. Then, in a brave act, Chris Woakes walked out with his left arm in a sling. While he didn’t face a ball and struggled to run, his presence helped Atkinson bring England within one big hit of victory. But it wasn’t to be, as Siraj landed the final blow.

KL Rahul is the next to have a chat. He says this win means everything. Shares that he has played cricket for years, won the Champions Trophy and has seen the team lift the T20 World Cup, and feels nothing compared to that. He reflects on the doubts surrounding Test cricket, the constant questions about its future, but says both teams answered it well. He admits that they were put under pressure at times but they fought in every game. Says 2-2 might be a draw, but feels that this will rank right at the top for Indian Test cricket. Mentions that not having the senior pros like Rohit, Virat and Ashwin in the side took them a couple of weeks to settle in. He feels that everyone asking him about the English conditions made him realise that he has stepped into a different role to guide the youngsters in the team. He is full of praise for Shubman Gill. Calls him a phenomenal captain who led from the front and showed immense character. He believes that Gill will take India to greater heights in the format.

The man of the moment for India, Mohammed Siraj is up for a chat with Dinesh Karthik. Siraj says he was just focusing on bowling in the right areas and was not too concerned if he conceded a boundary. Says his only aim was to pick wickets for his country. On being asked about Brook's dropped catch, he admits that he didn't think he would tread on the boundary after taking the catch. Calls it a match-changing moment as he mentions Brook went into a T20 mode. Reflects that they were well behind in the game after that dropped catch, but he kept believing in himself that he could turn the game from any point and feels happy to do it for his country.

There is nothing quite like Test cricket! India looked down and out on Day 4, but have risen from the ashes to pull off one of the greatest Test wins. England are left crestfallen. At 332 for 4, needing just 42 more, the game was theirs to lose and to fall short from there will sting. These two teams have delivered a series for the ages, and given how closely fought it was, 2-2 feels like a fair result.

85.1: Mohammed Siraj to Gus Atkinson, OUT! BOWLED 'EM! KNOCKED HIM OVER! Mohammed Siraj does it for India and saves his side from a series defeat! Absolute scenes at the Kennington Oval. Celebrations begin in the Indian dressing room! Mohammed Siraj charges in from over the stumps and fires a laser-straight yorker, aimed at the off stump. Gus Atkinson bends low and looks to drag it to the leg side with a sweep shot, but misses and the ball uproots the off pole. All the Indian players engulf Siraj as he finishes off with a 5-for in this inning. INDIA WIN BY 6 RUNS!

84.6: Prasidh Krishna to Gus Atkinson, Atkinson gets a huge cheer from the English crowd as he retains the strike once again! Krishna fires in a low full toss, outside off, Gus Atkinson shuffles across off and drags it along the ground, through wide mid on for a single. England need 7 runs to win now!

The batters get together for a chat. Dhruv Jurel has taken off one glove this time.

84.5: Prasidh Krishna to Gus Atkinson, Short delivery, outside off, Gus Atkinson misses on the pull shot and Jurel runs forward to collect the ball.

84.4: Prasidh Krishna to Gus Atkinson, Wide yorker, outside off, Gus Atkinson again cannot get bat on ball as he looks to slash it through the off side.

84.3: Prasidh Krishna to Gus Atkinson, Another swing and a miss! This one gets an extra kick off the deck, on a short length, on top of off. Gus Atkinson clears the front leg to make some room for himself, and again throws his bat to pull, but gets no connection.

84.2: Prasidh Krishna to Gus Atkinson, On the shorter side, over the top of middle. Gus Atkinson swings hard to pull it away, but the ball sneaks in off the deck and beats the bat on the way to the keeper. 

Chris Woakes is grimacing in pain as he completes the second run. Walks over to his partner for a chat.

84.1: Prasidh Krishna to Gus Atkinson, Low full toss, on middle, Gus Atkinson takes the ball on the full and heaves it to the right of long on. Sai Sudharsan from long on intercepts with a slide. The man converging from deep mid-wicket collects it and throws towards the bowler. The batters cross each other twice.

Usually, we have seen keepers taking one glove off, but Dhruv Jurel had both gloves on.

83.6: Mohammed Siraj to Gus Atkinson, Smart running! Mohammed Siraj is absolutely fuming at Dhruv Jurel as he misses scoring a direct hit at the striker's end. Siraj hurls it wide on off, and on a fuller length. Gus Atkinson reaches at it, swings and misses and instantly calls Woakes through for a bye. Chris Woakes responds well and scoots through to get to the other end. Dhruv Jurel collects the ball and runs forward and releases an underarm throw, but misses to hit. Siraj collects it on the follow-through. It means Gus Atkinson will take the strike in the next over.

Does the field come up now? No, the field stays back.

83.5: Mohammed Siraj to Gus Atkinson, SWING AND A MISS! Mohammed Siraj goes for a yorker, but misfires it as a full toss. Gus Atkinson swings for the hills with all his might. Tries to pull it over the leg side, but misses on the connection. The ball just sneaks past the leg stump, on the bounce to the left of Dhruv Jurel.

Shubman Gill from the slips walks up to have a chat with Mohammed Siraj.

83.4: Mohammed Siraj to Gus Atkinson, Siraj goes full and around leg, Gus Atkinson backs away and gives it a big whack across the line. Gets an inside edge that dribbles towards deep fine leg. No single taken.

83.3: Mohammed Siraj to Gus Atkinson, MISTIMED IN THE AIR! Lands safe! Bangs short and on middle, the ball gets heavy on Gus Atkinson and he miscues the pull shot in the air. It lands safely in thereabouts of the mid-wicket region.

Akash Deep has pushed himself right on the long on fence. One extra man goes down to the deep mid-wicket boundary.

83.2: Mohammed Siraj to Gus Atkinson, DROPPED, SIX! What a brutal strike! Siraj lands it fuller and on off, Gus Atkinson clears the front leg and smokes it to the right of long on. Akash Deep is stationed a few yards in from the ropes there, and backtracks to take a diving catch by flinging himself toward the ball, but just palms it over the ropes for a six.

83.1: Mohammed Siraj to Gus Atkinson, An attempted yorker which shapes away from off, Gus Atkinson crouches a bit to carve the ball out to the point region.

And here comes Chris Woakes. Quite remarkable scenes as Woakes walks out with his left arm tucked in a sling inside the sweater. The Oval crowd is up on its feet to welcome England's wounded warrior.

82.6: Prasidh Krishna to Josh Tongue, OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! BOWLED'EM! Crazy scenes at The Oval! The decibels have breached all limits! Prasidh Krishna fires in a pinpoint yorker, right in front of the sticks, Josh Tongue is pinned in the crease, caught for space to work with, and is a bit late to bring his bat down to block it out. The ball nips in off the deck and brushes the pad before rolling back into the stumps. Josh Tongue goes for a 12-ball duck and now England need 17 runs to win, with India needing 1 wicket. 

Gully is pushed back to deep third. Just the two men in the slip cordon then.

82.5: Prasidh Krishna to Josh Tongue, On a back of a length outside off. Tongue drags the bat inside the line and lets it go through to the keeper.

82.4: Prasidh Krishna to Gus Atkinson, Whoa! A comedy of errors from both sides! A steep bumper, on the bodyline. Gus Atkinson mistimes the pull shot over mid on. Mohammed Siraj from long on charges in towards the ball and Gus Atkinson rushes through for a single. However, Josh Tongue is caught ball-watching and soon realises and skates to the other end. Mohammed Siraj releases a wild throw, well away from Dhruv Jurel, to his right. But deep third backs it up well and they settle in with a single.

82.3: Prasidh Krishna to Gus Atkinson, The off pole is attacked, on a length, Gus Atkinson strides forward and taps it out to the cover region.

82.2: Prasidh Krishna to Gus Atkinson, Tunnels into the batter through the air, on a length, on middle. Gus Atkinson tucks it to mid-wicket.

82.1: Prasidh Krishna to Gus Atkinson, Spears it full and straight, on off, Gus Atkinson drills it down to long off but does not take the single.

81.6: Mohammed Siraj to Josh Tongue, JAFFA! What an interrogation from Siraj in this over! Hits the hard length, shapes in and then moves away to beat the outside edge as Tongue hangs the bat to block.

81.5: Mohammed Siraj to Josh Tongue, The stumps are attacked, on a hard length, Josh Tongue weighs on the back foot and blocks it under the bat.

81.4: Mohammed Siraj to Josh Tongue, Slams the deck hard, outside off, Josh Tongue hops on the crease and dabs it on the bounce to third slip.

81.3: Mohammed Siraj to Josh Tongue, SNORTER! Brings the line much closer to the off pole, around the fourth stump and then gets the ball to sharply shape away. Josh Tongue pushes to go straight, but plays for the initial line and is beaten by the outside edge.

81.2: Mohammed Siraj to Josh Tongue, Shapes in and then folds away from the batter, on a fullish length, well outside off. Josh Tongue looks to drive to covers, but it is far enough to connect.

81.1: Mohammed Siraj to Gus Atkinson, Touch full and outside off, Gus Atkinson crouches a bit and cuts it to deep backward point. Ravindra Jadeja from deep cover sprints to the left and intercepts it. A single taken.

80.6: Prasidh Krishna to Josh Tongue, In-between length, outside off, cutting away off the deck. Tongue lets that go.

80.5: Prasidh Krishna to Josh Tongue, Another appeal for LBW, but this time, the finger stays down! After bashing it on the length, Krishna goes fuller and on tails it on the leg stump line. Josh Tongue fails to get bat on the ball and is beaten on the inside edge to get rapped on the pad.

England will be disappointed because the batters had set off for a leg bye before the finger was raised but since it was given out, the ball became dead at that moment and the run will not count. In a game of fine margins like this, every run is vital.

80.4: Prasidh Krishna to Josh Tongue, A huge appeal for LBW, and given by Ahsan Raza! Josh Tongue has instantly reviewed it! Back of a length, angling on the middle and leg stump line. Josh Tongue gets half-forward to push it across the line but gets beaten on the inside edge and is hit on the knee roll. No bat involved on UltraEdge and Ball Tracking saves Tongue as it is missing the leg stump on height as well as line by a fair margin. NOT OUT.

80.3: Prasidh Krishna to Josh Tongue, BEAUTY! Shapes in and then straightens off the deck, on a length, around the fourth. Josh Tongue hangs back and pokes at the delivery, getting beaten on the outside edge.

80.2: Prasidh Krishna to Gus Atkinson, EDGED, Lands short! Sai Sudharsan is placed well in the deep. Short of a length, outside off, Gus Atkinson flashes and flashes hard at it, and gets a big outside edge. The ball flies wide of the slip cordon and goes on the bounce to deep third. A single taken.

India had a decision to make about the new ball. The current ball is still offering assistance and India are continuing with it.

80.1: Prasidh Krishna to Gus Atkinson, Short and angling on the body, around the leg stump. Gus Atkinson weighs on the back foot to pull, but the ball passes under the bat to hit around the thigh pad.

79.6: Mohammed Siraj to Josh Tongue, Back of a length, jags in a touch, on off, Josh Tongue calmly presses forward and bunts it down the pitch.

Unbelievable scenes at The Oval. Here comes Josh Tongue with England needing 20 runs while India need 2 wickets.

79.5: Mohammed Siraj to Jamie Overton, OUT! LBW! Mohammed Siraj has produced another nip-backer to give India hope! Mohammed Siraj cannons the ball in, full and on middle and leg. It tails just enough to beat the inside edge as Jamie Overton misses the flick and is rapped on the front pad. A loud, confident appeal for LBW and Kumar Dharmasena, after giving it a long thought, slowly raises his finger! Jamie Overton reviews it immediately as he believes that it is sliding down leg. UltraEdge comes up and shows no spike, and Ball Tracking shows umpire's call as the ball is projected to clip the leg stump. Mohammed Siraj gets his fourth wicket and his joy knows no bounds. England are 354/8, needing another 20 runs to win.

79.4: Mohammed Siraj to Gus Atkinson, Attacks the pads as this one tails in from a fuller length. Gus Atkinson misses the flick and the ball deflects towards wide deep fine leg for a leg bye.

79.3: Mohammed Siraj to Gus Atkinson, For the umpteenth time, the ball beats the bat. In the channel, around off, in that corridor of uncertainty, on a length. Gus Atkinson is forced to play at it and the ball swings away. Not that far from the edge.

Chris Woakes has been spotted in the dressing room in whites.

79.2: Mohammed Siraj to Gus Atkinson, Keeps it around the fifth, on a good length. It lands and seams away late. Gus Atkinson feels for it and hangs his bat away from the body, only to get beaten on the outside edge.

79.1: Mohammed Siraj to Gus Atkinson, Wide on off, swaying away from the batter, Gus Atkinson reaches at it but it shapes away to beat the outside edge.

78.6: Prasidh Krishna to Gus Atkinson, Excellent work in the deep by Jadeja. But has he saved the boundary? Yes, he does! Krishna bowls it on a good length and outside off. Gus Atkinson stands tall and slaps it past cover-point. Ravindra Jadeja from deep backward point scoots to his right and slides to flick the ball in before the ropes. Three taken.

78.5: Prasidh Krishna to Gus Atkinson, Swing and a miss! The ball is just doing enough to beat the bat! Seams away from a fuller length, outside off, Gus Atkinson flashes at it on the front foot and the ball beats the outside edge by a kitten-whisker.

78.4: Prasidh Krishna to Jamie Overton, Short of a good length, around off, Jamie Overton controls the pull, along the ground to deep square leg for a single.

78.3: Prasidh Krishna to Jamie Overton, BEATEN! Good length, outside off, swinging away, Jamie Overton goes fishing at it and is beaten past the outside edge.

78.2: Prasidh Krishna to Jamie Overton, Short and closer to the off pole, nipping in a touch. Jamie Overton shapes to pull, but gets an inside edge on the bounce to the left of the keeper. Jurel with the diving stop behind.

78.1: Prasidh Krishna to Jamie Overton, Full and outside off, Jamie presses forward and defends it out.

77.6: Mohammed Siraj to Gus Atkinson, LEADING EDGE, SAFE! Fuller and nips back into the batter, Atkinson tries to steer it to the leg side, and gets a leading edge that flies through the vacant point region for a brace.

77.5: Mohammed Siraj to Gus Atkinson, Pitched up, on off, Gus drives it without much timing to mid off.

77.4: Mohammed Siraj to Gus Atkinson, CHANCE? Another one that shapes away from the batter, on a good length, outside off, Gus Atkinson jabs at the ball away from his body and gets an outside edge and it goes flat and dips low to the right of KL Rahul at second slip. Rahul's fingers get yorked by the ball and he fails to get his fingers under the ball.

Gus Atkinson walks out to bat.

77.3: Mohammed Siraj to Jamie Smith, OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Mohammed Siraj fishes out Jamie Smith! This leaves the batter through the air, on a length, and outside off, Jamie Smith pokes at the delivery to push at it. An outside edge is found and Dhruv Jurel does the rest by gathering the ball safely to his right with a dive. The Indians are certain that they have their man, but the umpire Kumar Dharmasena is not sure enough and walks to the leg umpire. The decision is sent upstairs and first, the fairness of the catch is confirmed with the ball gathered well above the ground and UltraEdge confirms a clear spike when the ball is next to the bat. 

Gone? There was a noise but Kumar Dharmasena walks over to Ahsan Raza. He wants to check if the catch was clean. One replay is enough to confirm the fairness of the catch and the UltraEdge confirms the edge.

A bit of rain in the air.

77.2: Mohammed Siraj to Jamie Smith, BEATEN AGAIN! Outswinger, just outside off, on a length. Jamie Smith, without moving his feet much, has a waft at it and the ball whispers past the outside edge.

77.1: Mohammed Siraj to Jamie Smith, WHISKER! A bit of shape away from the batter, well wide on off, on a length. Smith hangs his bat away from the body, but the ball curves just enough to beat the outside edge.

No surprises as Mohammed Siraj will operate from the other end.

76.6: Prasidh Krishna to Jamie Overton, Pitched fuller and on off, Jamie Overton tries to force the drive to mid off, but the ball jags in a touch and takes the inside edge before rolling off the pad.

76.5: Prasidh Krishna to Jamie Overton, Play and a miss! Seams away from outside off, on a hard length, Jamie Overton shapes to cut it square and is beaten on the outside edge.

76.4: Prasidh Krishna to Jamie Overton, NEARLY DRAGGED ON, FOUR! Fortuitous! Outside off, on a hard length, sneaking in off the deck, Jamie Overton tries to slash through the off side, but inside edges, just past the stumps for a boundary at deep fine leg. England need 27 runs to win now!

76.3: Prasidh Krishna to Jamie Overton, FOUR! What a brilliant start for England! Prasidh Krishna bangs it short into the pitch and keeps it around off. Jamie Overton stands tall and deep in the crease. Pulls it magnificently through deep square leg for a boundary.

All in readiness for the final act of the series to commence. As expected, England opted for the heavy roller. The crowd has filled in nicely, not wanting to miss a moment. Shubman Gill has his players for one final huddle. Nasser Hussain mentions that Chris Woakes has been practising batting left-handed to protect his injured left shoulder. Prasidh Krishna is at the top of his mark and raring to go. Jamie Overton is on strike. Here we go!

PITCH REPORT - Deep Dasgupta informs that it is an overcast morning and reckons the surface still has something in it for the bowlers. He mentions that it will not be easy for the new batter. With the outfield being dry, he feels there is no danger of the ball getting wet if it travels outside the square.

Rain, rain, please stay away! Varun Aaron reports from The Oval that rain is expected around 10.45 am local time, about 15 minutes before the scheduled start, and could continue until around 12 to 12.30 pm. It is overcast at the moment but importantly, dry, and let’s hope it stays that way. Tickets are sold out for today, and usually in this part of the world, spectators are offered a refund if fewer than 15 overs are bowled. That will not be the case today, though, as there will be no refund if even a single ball is bowled - fair or unfair?

For the hosts, this pause could manifest as mounting anxiety or a welcome reset. With Jamie Smith still at the crease, England will believe this match remains theirs. But if this series has taught us anything, predicting Test cricket outcomes would be naive. So let us resist that temptation. Instead, let us prepare to watch, absorb, and treasure whatever precious moments remain of this remarkable series. The first ball of the series’ final act is not far away. Stay with us as history prepares to unfold in this ceaselessly chaotic contest.

Yet the mathematics remain stark. With 35 runs needed and four wickets in hand, and as mentioned by Root in the presser, that Woakes will come out to bat. The visitors wouldn’t have wanted to leave the field, especially after controlling those final 8-9 overs with clinical precision. But the rain arrived, splashing away their momentum. This overnight break might prove providence in disguise, offering weary bodies recovery time, particularly for someone like Mohammed Siraj, whose bowling has been powered by pure heart throughout this series.

But cricket rarely follows a linear path. Both batters departed within 36 runs, and suddenly India glimpsed a pathway back. England slipped from 301/3 to 337/6, and the contest shifted once again. India’s second surge came through sustained pressure that slowly suffocated. Just when their fuel tanks seemed empty, the pace trio detected cracks and drove through with renewed vigour. Runs dried up, the sweet spot went missing, and the ball veered enough. Post Brook’s dismissal, the Indian bowlers maintained discipline by targeting stumps with precision. Gradually, the rewards began to flow.

It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves, and England climbed with a remarkable purpose. The foundation was laid by their batting order, or shall we say, Bazball in its most sublime expression. Still 268 runs adrift, Joe Root and Harry Brook embarked on what seemed the most audacious of missions. India appeared flat on the ground, with their resolve cracking under the relentless Yorkshire partnership that added 195 runs with unwavering intent, both scoring respective centuries.

Day 25. Dare we say, few would have imagined this Test reaching its final day, especially after the way the match has unfolded. Yet here we are, on the fifth day of the fifth and final Test. The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, 2025, has produced a perfect advertisement for Test cricket. The patience, resilience, and extraordinary skill that have been on display have definitely elevated the series beyond mere statistics. This is cricket that leaves an indelible mark. A warm welcome to what promises to be a day that will echo through cricketing laurels.

... DAY 5, FIRST SESSION ...

Chris Woakes was spotted in his whites, sling on his left shoulder, and if it comes down to it, we might just see him walk out to bat. England will have the option of using the roller tomorrow, and they will surely go for the heavy one in an attempt to settle the surface before knocking off the remaining 35 runs. India had England under the pump when play was halted and would have loved to return this evening with their supporters right behind them. Still, the bowlers will now get a good night’s rest and return fresh for one final burst. A gripping finale to a gripping series awaits us on Monday, 4th August. The first ball will be bowled at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT). See you then. Cheers!

India struggled to create even a half-chance as the Yorkshire duo of master and apprentice went on to notch up centuries in a commanding 195-run stand. Brook fell while trying to cut loose after reaching his ton, but it was the departure of Jacob Bethell that truly injected life into the Indian camp. The sustained pressure from Siraj and Krishna eventually told on Root. From that point on, it felt like the middle of the bat had vanished. The two Jamies, Smith and Overton, were under immense pressure, and the runs dried up completely. India's bowlers tightened the screws, and suddenly, every run felt hard-earned. Just as the tension was peaking, bad light, followed by rain brought play to a halt, and we never got back on.

England came into Day 4 needing 324 runs, and Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope went through the first 40 minutes or so unscathed before India hit back to remove both of them. The arrival of Harry Brook changed the complexion of the game, with Mohammed Siraj accidentally trodding on the boundary cushion after taking Brook’s catch on 19, adding to it. Brook put India on the back foot and forced them into a defensive approach after lunch with more passive field settings. Credit to Harry for adapting well as he played the field smartly, rotating the strike with singles and twos.

Well, that was quick! The umpires have pulled the plug. It is STUMPS on Day 4. So, we will be going into the 25th day of the series with everything still to play for. Who would have thought this Test would go into Day 5 when Harry Brook and Joe Root were cruising towards victory earlier in the day? But that’s been the story of this series, twists and turns arriving when least expected.

UPDATE - 10.29 pm IST (4.59 pm GMT) - The match officials have put their umbrellas down, so it looks like the rain has stopped. There is still waterlogged on the covers, and the ground staff are waiting around the edges. Varun Aaron reports that conditions have brightened up, but the ground staff are yet to start removing the covers. Are they expecting another shower? Umpire Ahsan Raza has walked up to the English dressing room to update Ollie Pope and his men about the situation.

UPDATE - 10.24 pm IST (4.54 pm GMT) - It is down to a mizzle now but the ground staff have made their way out to the centre.

UPDATE - 10.20 pm IST (4.50 pm GMT) - The rain has eased a bit but it is still coming down. We are hearing that play must resume by 11.12 pm IST (5.42 pm GMT) to allow for any further action today. If it does, play can go on until 12 am IST (6.30 pm GMT).

UPDATE - 10.14 pm IST (4.44 pm GMT) - Pfft. Not pleasing news at all. It is raining heavily now in London. Hence, we might be in for a longer delay here. The side covers are also being brought in to protect the outfield now.

What a great advertisement this series has been for Test cricket. It’s the 24th day, and yet the energy and intensity haven’t dipped for a moment. This has been Test cricket at its absolute best. The ball hasn’t found the middle of the bat for several overs now. Earlier, Brook and Root made batting look effortless, but it’s been a different story for those who followed. Post the wickets of Brook and Root, anyone else on strike found it extremely difficult to settle in. The ball thudded into the pads countless times, with the pacers relentlessly targeting the stumps and getting considerable movement off the pitch and through the air. And now, with the new ball just 3.4 overs away, India would’ve wanted play to continue, especially after Root’s dismissal had them tightening the screws. For England, though, this break might just be the breather they needed to regroup and shake off the pressure.

Oh my goodness! The lightmeter is out! And the on-field umpires feel that the artificial light has taken over the natural light and it is not safe enough to continue. The players are being requested to go off the field now as the play has been halted due to BAD LIGHT! There were some spits and drops of rain as well, but it seems it is not that heavy. Maybe one needs a dark background to spot the raindrops. But as things stand, the white sheets of covers are being brought in by the ground staff. They place it on the pitch and the squares. But this doesn't look like a long delay, as the aerial visuals do show clear skies in the vicinity of the ground. Stay tuned for further updates.

Game stopped due to : Bad Light

76.2: Prasidh Krishna to Jamie Overton, This is very full by Prasidh, outside off, Overton is standing outside the crease and takes a step down the track. Fails to get his bat down in time. The ball sneaks under the vertical bat and goes behind to the keeper. A polite enquiry from India and the decision is sent upstairs. The third umpire looks at multiple angles and the UltraEdge has a spike but he has no conclusive evidence of the ball going off the bat directly to the keeper. Stays with the on-field call of NOT OUT.

Decision sent upstairs by the on-field umpires. Is that a bump ball on the way to the keeper? The Indians have appealed for a caught behind. UltraEdge comes up and the spike appears when the ball hits the ground first, with the bat fairly behind the ball. The third umpire says he has not got any conclusive evidence of the ball hitting the bottom of the bat. And NOT OUT loads up on the big screen.

76.1: Prasidh Krishna to Jamie Overton, Prasidh serves it on a hard length, around off, Overton punches it without much timing to point.

75.6: Mohammed Siraj to Jamie Smith, Brings the ball back into the right-hander, on a short of a length, Smith gets on top of it and jabs it to mid on. The last 36 balls have seen just 8 runs being scored and the fall of 2 wickets.

75.5: Mohammed Siraj to Jamie Smith, This stays a bit low, on a good length, around the off stump, Jamie punches well but picks out the man at cover-point.

75.4: Mohammed Siraj to Jamie Smith, Siraj bashes the hard length, over the off stump, Smith stands tall and punches it to cover.

75.3: Mohammed Siraj to Jamie Smith, Beaten again! This is closer to the off stump, on a length, moving away in the air, Smith goes for the big drive and is beaten.

75.2: Mohammed Siraj to Jamie Smith, Shaping away, on a good length, Smith follows the ball and has a loose waft at the ball well away from his body but gets away with it.

75.1: Mohammed Siraj to Jamie Smith, Pitched up, on off, Smith swings through and firms the drive but it goes straight to mid on.

74.6: Prasidh Krishna to Jamie Overton, On off, on a nagging length, Jamie tucks it with a closed bat face but it is cut off by Abhimanyu Easwaran at short square leg.

Whoa! Jamie Overton pulled out at the last moment when Krishna was about to deliver. He points out some movement in the crowd, behind the bowler's arm, and bails out for the second time as well. Ready to continue finally...

74.5: Prasidh Krishna to Jamie Overton, Lands it on a good length, on the off stump, Jamie Overton solidly gets behind it.

74.4: Prasidh Krishna to Jamie Smith, Even fuller this time, on the off stump, Jamie knocks it to the left of mid off and takes a single. That brings about a cheer from the English supporters.

74.3: Prasidh Krishna to Jamie Smith, Pitched up, around off, Jamie gets forward for the drive. Gets it off the inner half to mid-wicket.

74.2: Prasidh Krishna to Jamie Smith, Play and a miss! On a back of a length, around off, Smith with a high elbow looks to punch it away on the off side. Gets beaten on the outside edge.

74.1: Prasidh Krishna to Jamie Smith, Had to hurry! Krishna strays on the pads, on a length, Smith gets beaten on the flick. The ball drops off the pads to the right of mid-wicket. Jamie Overton is off for a run before Smith sends him back. Abhimanyu Easwaran fires in a throw at the bowling end but misses. It would not have mattered anyway, as Overton was in.

73.6: Mohammed Siraj to Jamie Overton, Slightly fuller, around off, Jamie walks down the track and whips it to mid-wicket.

73.5: Mohammed Siraj to Jamie Overton, This is on a good length, outside off, Overton jabs at the ball. It gets squirted off the inner half to the right of the bowler.

73.4: Mohammed Siraj to Jamie Overton, Nip-backer from Siraj, on a nagging length, on middle, Jamie plants his front foot forward to deal with it. The ball cuts back to go past the inside edge and hits Jamie high on the front pad.

73.3: Mohammed Siraj to Jamie Overton, Sprayed down leg, on a length, Overton fails to lay any bat on it and Dhruv Jurel gathers it with a dive to his left.

73.2: Mohammed Siraj to Jamie Smith, Leg bye! Sliding at the hips, on a back of a length, Smith misses the tickle. A leg bye is taken as the ball goes off the pads towards deep fine leg.

73.1: Mohammed Siraj to Jamie Smith, On a good length, on middle, Smith brings his bat out in front to keep it out.

Chris Woakes is seen in his whites in the English dressing room! Will he come out to bat? Not yet. Jamie Overton walks in at 8 for England.

72.6: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! India have the wicket they were after! Joe Root admonishes himself as he trudges off. This is in the channel on off, on a back of a length, uncharacteristically, Root pushes at the delivery away from his body. Gets an outside edge that goes to the right of the keeper. Dhruv Jurel dives to his right and snaffles a safe catch. Root will be disappointed to have not finished the job. Departs for 105 (152). England are now 337/6, needing 37 more runs.

72.5: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Prasidh Krishna gets it up there, on off and middle, Root walks across and squeezes it out to mid-wicket.

72.4: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, At the stumps, a bit full, Root pushes it to mid on.

72.3: Prasidh Krishna to Jamie Smith, Leg bye! This squares Smith up on defence, on a back of a length, Jamie hangs back for the block. The ball goes past the outside edge and a leg bye is taken as the ball goes off the thigh pad on the off side.

72.2: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Ahsan Raza gets it right! Seamed back in sharply, on a good length, on middle, Root is pinned on the crease. Looks to close the bat face and work it on the leg side but the ball cuts back to go past the inside edge and catch him on the knee roll of the front pad. The UltraEdge shows no bat and the Ball Tracking shows that the ball is missing the leg stump, both on line and height. They get a leg bye.

Is that out? Looks very close and the Indians have gone upstairs to challenge the on-field decision. Nothing on UltraEdge, and the Ball Tracking projects the ball to miss the leg stump. NOT OUT!

72.1: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, On a good length, on the off stump, Root is solid in defence.

71.6: Mohammed Siraj to Jamie Smith, Slanting into the pads, on a length, Smith plants his front foot across for the clip but is beaten onto the front pad.

71.5: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Rapped on the pads but height is the issue again! Jagging back in, on a good length, on middle and leg, Joe misses out on the flick. The ball sneaks past the inside edge to hit the flap of the front pad. A leg bye is taken as the ball rolls through point.

71.4: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Sprayed down leg, on the fuller side, Joe fails to help it away. Dhruv Jurel dives to his left and fumbles but gets up on his feet to mop it up.

71.3: Mohammed Siraj to Jamie Smith, On a length, on the off stump, Smith pushes it to the left of mid on for a single.

71.2: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Short of a length, around off, Joe pats it wide of cover for a single.

71.1: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, An optimistic shout for LBW! This looks high but Siraj, as he is more often than not, is convinced. This nips back, on a back of a length, on middle, Root plays all around it and the ball catches him high on the front pad. On appeal, Kumar Dharmasena indicates that it is high despite the timer being on.

70.6: Prasidh Krishna to Jamie Smith, Beaten! On a good length, just outside the off stump, Smith hangs back to defend but the ball moves away to whistle past the outside edge.

70.5: Prasidh Krishna to Jamie Smith, Nearly sneaked through! Full and curving back in, on off and middle, Smith does not account for the inward movement and plays outside the line. Gets an inside edge onto the front pad.

Jamie Smith walks in at 7.

70.4: Prasidh Krishna to Jacob Bethell, OUT! DRAGGED ON! Jacob Bethell tries to release the pressure built on him and perishes in the process. From around the wicket, on a short of a length, around off, Bethell skips down the track and tries to slap it down the ground with a horizontal bat. Gets an inside edge that goes back to uproot the middle stump. England lose their 5th wicket, 42 runs away from a win.

70.3: Prasidh Krishna to Jacob Bethell, At the hips, on a short of a length, flicked to square leg.

70.2: Prasidh Krishna to Jacob Bethell, Beaten! In the corridor of off from around the wicket, on a back of a length, Bethell has a feel for the delivery and is beaten on the outside edge.

70.1: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Serves it on a nagging length, on middle, Joe gets his bat out in front and turns it to the right of mid-wicket for a quick single.

Prasidh Krishna (19-2-107-1) is back on. He replaces Akash Deep.

69.6: Mohammed Siraj to Jacob Bethell, This moves away a bit, on a short of a length, outside off, Jacob presses on the back foot and flashes but fails to connect.

69.5: Mohammed Siraj to Jacob Bethell, Honing in on the off stump, on a length, Bethell taps it down to cover.

69.4: Mohammed Siraj to Jacob Bethell, On a good length, on the off stump, Bethell covers the line and defends.

69.3: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Hurls it on a length, around off, Joe presses ahead and eases it to the left of cover for a single.

69.2: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, A sharp nip-backer from Siraj, on a back of a length, on middle and leg, Root is pinned on the crease and is beaten on the inside edge. Gets rapped on the thigh pad and balloons ahead of him. Siraj charges forward and stretches his hands out in front to catch it.

69.1: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, On a length, around the off stump, Joe knocks it to mid off.

Siraj misses the run up. Walks back to reload.

68.6: Akash Deep to Jacob Bethell, Deep gets the yorker in at the stumps, Jacob jams it out to mid off.

68.5: Akash Deep to Jacob Bethell, FOUR! Gets it through! This is on a length, on the off stump, Bethell stays leg side of the ball as he steps out. Caresses it between point and cover for a boundary.

68.4: Akash Deep to Jacob Bethell, On off, on a length, Bethell knocks it to the left of the bowler.

68.3: Akash Deep to Joe Root, At the stumps, on a good length, glanced down to deep fine leg for a single.

68.2: Akash Deep to Joe Root, Full and on off, driven to mid on by Root.

68.1: Akash Deep to Joe Root, HUNDRED FOR JOE ROOT! Cometh the hour, cometh Root. The Oval crowd rise to their feet and go 'Roooooot' as the champion batter brings up his 39th Test century. A touching gesture from Joe as he takes the helmet off, pulls out the Graham Thorpe headband from his pocket and puts it on. Looks at the heavens as he dedicates this ton to the late English batter. On a good length, on middle and leg, Root walks across his stumps and nudges it to the left of deep fine leg for a couple of runs. Completes the double, removes his helmet and as he always does, kisses the badge. Root has now surpassed the Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara (with 38 centuries) in terms of most Test hundreds. He now stands fourth in the list, behind the former greats like Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis, and Ricky Ponting.

68.1: Akash Deep to Joe Root, FIVE WIDES! This is sprayed down leg, on a good length, Joe Root lets it be. The ball goes right through the keeper and leg slip. Dhruv Jurel dived to his left but stood no chance. The runs required for England come down to 51.

67.6: Mohammed Siraj to Jacob Bethell, On a nagging length, outside off, not that wide for the cut but Bethell goes for it. Ends up chopping it down in front of point.

67.5: Mohammed Siraj to Jacob Bethell, Siraj switches to around the wicket and gets the ball to cut back into the left-hander, on a short of a length, over the stumps, Jacob rides the bounce and taps it to gully.

67.4: Mohammed Siraj to Jacob Bethell, Closer to the off stump, on a good length, Jacob stabs it down off the front foot.

67.3: Mohammed Siraj to Jacob Bethell, Wider on off, on a good length, Bethell caresses it to point.

67.2: Mohammed Siraj to Jacob Bethell, Sliding across the left-hander, fuller in length, Bethell gets forward to defend and does so with soft hands. Gets an outside edge that goes on the bounce to the left of KL Rahul at second slip.

67.1: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, On a back of a length, on the off stump, Joe gets on top of it and drops it with soft hands in front of point. Moves to 99 with this single.

Mohammed Siraj (21-3-91-2) to bowl from the other end.

66.6: Akash Deep to Jacob Bethell, Angled in, on a short of a length, on off, Jacob Bethell gets right behind it.

66.5: Akash Deep to Jacob Bethell, Short and wide on off, Jacob hops and cuts but can't get it past Washington Sundar at backward point.

Another attempt for a ball change from India. This time, Ravindra Jadeja hands the ball to Ahsan Raza, the on-field umpire. It cleanly passes through the ring and we are good to continue.

66.4: Akash Deep to Jacob Bethell, Lands it on a nagging length, on the off stump, Bethell pushes it in front of cover and is keen on a single but the fielder gets to the ball quickly.

66.3: Akash Deep to Jacob Bethell, Pulls the length back and keeps it around the off stump, JB waits back and pats it in front of point.

66.2: Akash Deep to Jacob Bethell, Floated up again, around the off pole, a firm push to mid on by Jacob.

66.1: Akash Deep to Jacob Bethell, Deep starts with a full ball from around the wicket, on the off stump, Bethell shows the full face of the bat and drives it to mid off.

Well, it has considerably brightened up in London now as we welcome you all for the final session of the day. The umps and players make their way out to the middle. Joe Root, on 98, and Jacob Bethell walk out to resume with the bat. Akash Deep to begin the attack after Tea for India. England need 57 runs to win, India need 6 wickets. It is all set up for the final act. Here we go...

UPDATE - 8.51 pm IST (3.21 pm GMT) - Good news! The covers are coming off now and the stumps have also been erected. Joe Root and Jacob Bethell can be seen in the English dressing room, padded up and ready to get to the middle. As we speak, the ground staff are dragging the ropes across the outfield to clear up any lingering moisture​​​​​.

UPDATE - 8.46 pm IST (3.16 pm GMT) - It seems that the drizzle has relented. But the pitch and the squares remain under covers for now. And the latest official word is that the play will resume at 9 pm IST (3.30 pm GMT).

... DAY 4, THIRD SESSION ...

The moment England’s target dipped below triple digits, there was a visible drop in energy from the Indian camp, shoulders slumped, the pace tapered off, and a few basic fielding errors crept in to compound their troubles. Gill looked increasingly out of ideas, with absolutely nothing falling in India’s favour. With pace back as the last roll of the dice, Akash Deep did finally manage to fish out Brook after a beast of a knock as the session crawled to its end. Post Brook's departure, there was a phase where the energy was back in the Indian camp and a couple of chances were created as well. But Root and Bethell coasted England through. With just 57 runs needed now, it is England's game to lose from here and India will need to produce something miraculous to turn the tide from here. The post-Tea session should be the final session of this series. Stick around.

Siraj’s heavy workload began to show, while Akash Deep struggled to make any impression in the afternoon. The pitch offered little, and apart from the odd ball that jagged back in sharply, there was no real menace. Krishna’s short-ball ploy fizzled out as the ball lost its bite with each passing over. Spin was called upon in tandem but India didn't get what they were desperately in search of. Brook mounted a spectacular hundred as England raced away to their target.

India’s hopes of chipping away at the wickets were firmly extinguished by Joe Root and Harry Brook, who stood tall after Lunch and gave the visitors no breathing space. Their partnership was built on the template of relentless strike rotation, as singles and twos flowed steadily, keeping the scoreboard ticking without ever resorting to risk. Brook, more measured than adventurous, didn’t chase anything extravagant, yet both batters found the boundary often enough to keep the pressure on. His pre-lunch counterattack had already nudged India into a defensive mindset, unsettling their lines and lengths. As the ball softened, batting became noticeably easier. Root brought up his fifty, and the stand soon went into triple figures.

SESSION SUMMARY - 28 Overs, 153 Runs, and 1 Wicket. It had started to drizzle before the final delivery of the session and it seems like the rain has just gotten a bit heavy now. The covers are brought in and placed on the pitch and the squares. Joe Root and Jacob Bethell sprint towards the English dressing room, protecting their bats. At the start of the day's play, we did mention that over the years, Bazball has made the cricketing world realise that they will go and hunt down the target of any might. And here they are, on the cusp of pulling off an absolute heist. The scars of Headingley are back in the Indian camp as the task has gotten much, much steeper than they would have expected.

Game stopped due to : Wet Ground Condition

Game stopped due to : Rain Stoppage

65.6: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, On the off stump, on a good length, Joe plants his front foot across and jabs it to mid on. That will be TEA on Day 4!

65.5: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, FOUR! Lovely stroke! Joe Root moves to 98 with one ball left in the session. On a good length, on off, Root plays it uppishly but wide enough of Mohammed Siraj on his follow-through to his left. England need 57 more now. It has started to drizzle but we should get the last ball in.

65.4: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, FOUR! Gets it through! On a good length, outside off, Root lets the ball arrive and plays it late. Steers it down with an open bat face and beats the diving Sai Sudharsan at gully to his left for a boundary.

65.3: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, On a hard length, on middle, Root gets on his toes and works it through square leg. Akash Deep from deep backward square leg mops it up. With this brace, Root moves to 90.

65.2: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, A loud shout for LBW but turned down! The impact looks outside the line but Shubman Gill wants to take a chance. Sends it upstairs for a review. A sharp nip-backer from Siraj, on a good length, Root is half-forward and keeps his bat close to the front pad for the block. The ball sneaks past the inside edge and catches Root on the knee roll on the front pad. As expected, the Ball Tracking confirms that the impact is outside off.

65.1: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Pitched up, on off, firmly driven to wide mid off by Root.

With two minutes remaining, this could well be the final over before Tea. Siraj to continue.

64.6: Akash Deep to Jacob Bethell, Attacking the front pad, on a length, Bethell plays a bit outside the line. Ekes out an inside edge towards the leg side.

64.5: Akash Deep to Jacob Bethell, On a good length, on the off stump, Bethell is solid in defence.

64.4: Akash Deep to Jacob Bethell, From wide of the crease, honing in on the off stump, JB brings his bat out in front for the block.

64.3: Akash Deep to Jacob Bethell, This cuts away from the left-hander, on a good length, Jacob Bethell defends inside the line and gets beaten on the outside edge.

64.2: Akash Deep to Jacob Bethell, On a back of a length, on middle and leg, Jacob turns it to square leg.

64.1: Akash Deep to Jacob Bethell, Oh, what happened there? This is banged into the surface, outside off, Jacob Bethell sets up to drag the pull away in the front of square on the leg side. Gets it right off the toe end of the bat and it gets spooned near the crease at the bowling end. Deep turns around but the spikes get stuck in the turf and he slips. Fails to get there and Bethell survives. Had Akash not slipped, that was a simple chance.

63.6: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, FOUR! Sumptuous! Root responds in a spectacular fashion! A bit too full from Siraj, just outside the off stump, Root transfers his weight onto the front foot and drives it to the left of mid off. A valiant diving effort by Abhimanyu Easwaran but the ball wins the race.

63.5: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Nip-backer from Siraj, around the off stump, on a good length, Root walks across and covers the off stump to make a watchful leave. Siraj walks towards the batter and gives a steely stare to Root.

63.4: Mohammed Siraj to Jacob Bethell, On a good length, around the pads, Jacob tucks it between mid-wicket and mid on for a single.

India were flat on the field before Brook's departure, but that wicket has brought back some voices behind the bat now.

63.3: Mohammed Siraj to Jacob Bethell, Siraj spears in the yorker at the base of the off stump, Bethell gets his bat down to dig it out.

63.2: Mohammed Siraj to Jacob Bethell, This is pushed across the batter, on a good length, Jacob Bethell defends it right under his eyes.

63.1: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Pitched up, outside off, Joe Root leans into it and drives it to deep point for a single.

62.6: Akash Deep to Jacob Bethell, This nips back a touch, in the channel on off, on a good length, Jacob Bethell lets it be.

62.5: Akash Deep to Jacob Bethell, From around the wicket, on a good length, on middle, Jacob Bethell gets right behind it.

Jacob Bethell is in at 6.

62.4: Akash Deep to Harry Brook, OUT! CAUGHT! End of a superb knock from Harry Brook! The Oval crowd rises as one to give a standing ovation. This is on a nagging length, on off, Brook skips down the track to go big on the off side. The shot gets sliced across and Brook loses the grip on the bat. The bat goes for a toss towards square leg and the ball balloons towards mid off where Mohammed Siraj takes an easy catch. Brook departs for a well-made 111 (98). The massive 195-run partnership for the fourth wicket comes to an end, and England are 301/4, needing 73 more runs to win.

62.3: Akash Deep to Harry Brook, FOUR! Two in two for Harry Brook! Deep drags the length back but this sits up to be hit, on off, Brook stands tall and pulls it to the right of mid on for four more. The 300 is up for England.

62.2: Akash Deep to Harry Brook, FOUR! Hammered! Width on offer, on the fuller side, Brook feasts on it as he drills it to the left of Mohammed Siraj at mid off for a boundary.

62.1: Akash Deep to Harry Brook, On a hard length, on off, Brook taps the ball on its head and guides it to gully.

Akash Deep (16-2-65-0) returns for another spell. He replaces Washington Sundar.

61.6: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Keeps it in the corridor on off, on a good length, Joe leaves the ball alone. Siraj chirps at Root before turning around to collect his hat from Kumar Dharmasena.

61.5: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, FOUR! Off the edge! In the channel on off from wide of the crease, Joe gets into the position for the drive. A bit of away shape results in the ball catching the outside edge and it goes to the right of gully for a boundary.

61.4: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, On a length, outside off, Root leans into the shot and drives it to cover.

Siraj is not quite pleased with the landing area. One of the members of the ground staff rushes out with a hammer to flatten it out. Meanwhile, Gill walks up to Siraj to have a detailed chat. Harry Brook helps himself with a banana and gulps some pickle juice as well. All good to continue now.

61.3: Mohammed Siraj to Harry Brook, On a good length, around the off stump, Harry punches it in the vacant cover region for one.

61.2: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Angled in, on a nagging length, on middle, Root walks across to deep fine leg for a single. Akash Deep tidies up and that brings about a sarcastic cheer from the crowd behind him.

61.1: Mohammed Siraj to Harry Brook, On a good length, on off, Harry skips down the track and swats it to deep sqaure leg for a single.

Mohammed Siraj (18-3-68-2) is called back into the attack. Perhaps Gill’s last roll of the dice in search of a breakthrough. He replaces Jadeja.

60.6: Washington Sundar to Harry Brook, Full and on off, driven past point for a single.

60.5: Washington Sundar to Harry Brook, HUNDRED FOR BROOK! A fantastic knock from the young gun and it was his counter-attack before lunch that took the wind out of India's sails. 2nd hundred of the series and 10th overall in his Test career. This is pushed through, on a nagging length, around the off stump, Brook is deep in his crease to defend. Gets it off the outer half, fine of the man at deep backward point for a couple of runs. Takes the helmet off and soaks in all the applause.

60.4: Washington Sundar to Harry Brook, FOUR! Akash Deep has made a mess of it! Tossed up, full and on off, Brook gets on the front foot and drives it firmly to the left of long off. Akash Deep gets to the ball with a sprint and tries to make the stop with his left boot. The ball deflects off the shoe onto the right boot and trickles behind into the fence.

60.3: Washington Sundar to Harry Brook, Tossed up, full and on the pads, Harry clips it to square leg.

60.2: Washington Sundar to Harry Brook, A bit of away drift, fuller and slower, around off, Brook goes for the drive but the ball spins back to catch the inside edge and it rolls to square leg.

60.1: Washington Sundar to Harry Brook, Short and on off, Brook pushes it to cover.

The ring is out again. The ball is handed to the on-field umpire Ahsan Raza. Meanwhile, the two English batters help themselves with some fluids. Gill's another attempt to change the ball does not work as the ball passes through the hoop comfortably. 

59.6: Ravindra Jadeja to Joe Root, FOUR! Put away! Jadeja loses the grip on the ball and slips in a thigh-high full toss, on off, Root is a bit early into the shot and one hand comes off but manages to pull it over mid-wicket for a boundary.

59.5: Ravindra Jadeja to Joe Root, Fired in, short and on off, Root cuts it to backward point.

59.4: Ravindra Jadeja to Harry Brook, Short and on off, Harry is back in his crease and punches it to deep point for a single.

59.3: Ravindra Jadeja to Joe Root, At the stumps, on a length, eased to long off for one. England need 100 more now.

59.2: Ravindra Jadeja to Joe Root, Fuller and on off, Root pushes it back to Jadeja.

59.1: Ravindra Jadeja to Joe Root, Sliding into the right-hander, on a nagging length, on middle, Joe blocks it out.

Spin is brought in tandem now. Ravindra Jadeja (3-0-16-0) switches ends and replaces Prasidh Krishna.

58.6: Washington Sundar to Joe Root, Short and around off, Root goes back and cuts it through cover-point for a single.

58.5: Washington Sundar to Joe Root, Fuller and quicker, on off, Joe lunges and drives it to cover.

58.4: Washington Sundar to Harry Brook, Good running! Pushed through, short and around the off stump, Harry knocks it to the left of cover and calls Root through for a quick single.

It has started to drizzle now. But not that heavy as of now to halt the play. Given the position England find themselves in, they’ll be keen to stay out there as long as possible. On the other hand, India wouldn’t mind a brief interruption, as it will offer their pacers a much-needed breather.

58.3: Washington Sundar to Harry Brook, Turning in, full and on middle, Harry blocks it out.

58.2: Washington Sundar to Harry Brook, At the stumps, Brook stays back and nudges it to mid-wicket.

58.1: Washington Sundar to Joe Root, Tossed up, full and on middle, Joe Root plays the reverse and it is cut off by a sprinting Yashasvi Jaiswal to his left at deep backward point. Single taken.

Washington Sundar (2-0-9-0) is back on. He replaces Ravindra Jadeja.

57.6: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, This kicks up a bit, on a hard length, outside off, Root arches back and glides it uppishly but well in front of deep backward point. They cross. England need 104 more runs to win.

57.5: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Fuller and on the off stump, Root presents the full face of the bat and drives it to the left of mid on. Ravindra Jadeja gives it a chase and slides to cut it off. Two runs taken.

57.4: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Short and wide on off, Root hangs back and goes for the cut. Gets it off the toe end, and it is collected on the bounce by KL Rahul at second slip.

57.3: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, A bit of away curve, fuller and on off, Root works it to mid off.

57.2: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, In the channel on off, on a good length, Root shoulders arms.

57.1: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Banged in short, outside off, Root rides the bounce and rolls his wrists over the ball. Drags the pull through mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

56.6: Ravindra Jadeja to Joe Root, On the off stump, flat and short, Joe cuts it wide of backward point for one.

56.5: Ravindra Jadeja to Harry Brook, Flatter and around off, Harry guides it to the right of backward point for a single.

56.4: Ravindra Jadeja to Joe Root, On a length, on off, Root pushes it to long off and takes a single.

56.3: Ravindra Jadeja to Joe Root, On off, driven to cover.

56.2: Ravindra Jadeja to Joe Root, Speared in, full and on middle, flicked to mid-wicket.

56.1: Ravindra Jadeja to Joe Root, Full and on off, Joe presses forward and taps it to cover.

55.6: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Honing in on the off stump, on a back of a length, Joe hops to punch it away. Gets an inside edge to deep fine leg for one. A few words exchanged between Joe and Krishna but not as animated as it was in the first innings.

55.5: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, At waist height, on a short of a length, Harry pulls it with ease to deep backward square leg for one.

55.4: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, This stays a bit low, on a hard length, around leg, Brook checks his shot and pulls it to mid-wicket.

55.3: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, On a shortish length, around off, Joe swivels for the pull but swings early. The ball goes off the toe end to the left of point for one.

55.2: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, Banged short and on the body, Harry swivels and pulls it to deep backward square leg for a single.

55.1: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Short but the height does not trouble at all. Joe hangs back and pulls it to deep backward square leg for one.

54.6: Ravindra Jadeja to Harry Brook, Slanted in, at the pads, HB turns it to mid-wicket.

54.5: Ravindra Jadeja to Harry Brook, FOUR! Up and over! From around the wicket, this is angled in, on a nagging length, on middle, Brook presses back and swipes it over mid-wicket. Does not quite get hold of it but the ball bounces off the practice pitches and goes into the fence. The 150-run stand comes up!

54.4: Ravindra Jadeja to Joe Root, Keeps it full, around off, Joe eases the drive to long off for a single.

54.3: Ravindra Jadeja to Joe Root, Full and straight, Root pushes it to the left of Jadeja.

54.2: Ravindra Jadeja to Joe Root, Full and on off, knocked back to Jadeja.

54.1: Ravindra Jadeja to Harry Brook, Speared in, full and on middle, Brook ekes out an inside edge on the defence. The ball rolls to square leg for one.

53.6: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, PK goes short again, at the left shoulder, Harry stays back, gets on top of it and controls the pull down to deep fine leg for one.

53.5: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Short at chest height, on off, Root stands tall and pulls it to deep square leg for a single. 250 comes up for England. They need another 124 runs to win.

53.4: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, At the stumps, on a good length, Root gets right behind it.

53.3: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, On a hard length, on middle and leg, pulled through backward square leg for a single.

53.3: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, Wide! Prasidh Krishna bends his back and digs it in short. Spots Brook backing away and Prasidh follows him. Harry shapes up to slap it away with almost a vertical bat but misses. A leaping take to his left by Dhruv Jurel. Wide given for height.

53.2: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Short ball attempted again but this does not rise high enough, around leg, Joe gets inside the line and helps the pull down to deep fine leg for one.

53.1: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Banged in short by PK, on off, Root swivels and looks to get on top of the bounce for the pull. The ball dribbles off the right shoulder towards the keeper.

52.6: Ravindra Jadeja to Joe Root, Short and around off, Root waits back and pushes it wide of cover for another single. 7 off Jadeja's first over. England need 128 more runs to win.

52.5: Ravindra Jadeja to Harry Brook, Angled into the pads, too straight, clipped through backward square leg for one.

52.4: Ravindra Jadeja to Joe Root, Shorter and on the off stump, punched past cover for a single.

52.3: Ravindra Jadeja to Joe Root, Darted in and the length is pulled back, at the stumps, Joe defends.

52.2: Ravindra Jadeja to Joe Root, FOUR! Excellent use of the feet! Jadeja serves it full, on middle, Root skips down the track, gets to the pitch of the ball and lofts it back over the bowler's head for a boundary.

52.1: Ravindra Jadeja to Joe Root, From around the wicket, on a length, on the off stump, Root brings out the reverse but picks out the man at short third.

DRINKS BREAK! It has been all England so far in the afternoon session and they are running away with the game. Harry Brook and Joe Root have looked at ease, and Brook’s assault before lunch has pushed India into a defensive mindset. From the very start of this session, the fields have been on the passive side, allowing England to rotate strike comfortably. Apart from a couple of deliveries that nipped back sharply, the surface has not offered much. India look flat in the field and will be hoping for a spark to turn things around. Shubman Gill turns to Ravindra Jadeja in search of a breakthrough.

51.6: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, Around the fourth, on a length, Harry Brook dabs it off the back foot to backward point.

51.5: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Short and outside off, Root punches it to deep point for a single.

51.4: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, A stifled appeal for LBW from the slip cordon, but the umpire does not entertain it. PK goes full and on off, nips in a touch. Joe Root's bat doesn't arrive in front of the pad in time as he looks to block, and the ball clips the front pad and then hits the bat.

51.3: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Well wide on off, on a length, Root lets it go as the ball keeps nibbling away.

51.2: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, Wide on off, on a length, Brook slashes it to the right of Abhimanyu Easwaran at cover for a quick single.

51.1: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, Prasidh Krishna is back on. Short of a good length, around off. Harry Brook miscues it to the right of the bowler.

50.6: Akash Deep to Harry Brook, Another short delivery, on the body, Brook again pulls it to deep mid-wicket, but gets a single this time. Expensive from Akash as he concedes 9 from it. England need 137 more runs to win now!

50.5: Akash Deep to Harry Brook, FOUR! A shot of real authority! With every boundary now, the game will keep drifting away from the Indians! Akash goes short and on off, Harry Brook has enough time to transfer the weight on the back foot and he pulls it to the right of the man at deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

50.4: Akash Deep to Joe Root, Slants into the batter, on a good length, Joe Root nudges it to deep square leg for an easy single.

50.3: Akash Deep to Joe Root, Bangs it on a hard length, over middle, Joe rides the bounce and tucks it down on the leg side.

50.2: Akash Deep to Joe Root, Three leg byes! Too straight from Akash, on the pads, on a nagging length, Root misses out on the tickle. The ball goes off the pads towards deep fine leg. KL Rahul from slip goes after it and hauls it in.

50.1: Akash Deep to Harry Brook, Angled into the pads with Dhruv Jurel up to the stumps, on a length, Brook works it to deep backward square leg for a single.

49.6: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, A loose waft but Joe Root gets away with it! On a back of a length from wide of the crease, outside off, Root pokes at the delivery away from his body and is lucky not to nick this one behind.

Mohammed Siraj feels that the ball has gone out of shape and he takes it over to Kumar Dharmasena for a check. The ball has passed the test and we are good to go.

49.5: Mohammed Siraj to Harry Brook, Pitched fuller and on off, Brook drives off the inner half through wide mid-wicket for a single.

49.4: Mohammed Siraj to Harry Brook, FOUR! Put away! A loosener from Siraj, short and on the leg stump. Harry Brook controls the pull and plays it quite fine, towards deep fine leg for a boundary.

49.3: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, FIFTY FOR ENGLAND'S MODERN-DAY GREAT JOE ROOT! When the stakes were really high, he has magnificently stepped up with his calm demeanor! Test fifty number 67 for him and 13th half century against India! This proves that he just loves to play against this opposition! Good-length delivery, on the stumps, Joe Root gets on the toes and turns it to deep backward square leg for a single.

49.2: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Sharp off cutter on a length, on middle, Joe Root pushes at the delivery and is beaten on the inside edge. Is rapped on the thigh pad.

49.1: Mohammed Siraj to Harry Brook, Good length, nipping in and around off, Brook nudges it to wide mid-wicket for a single.

48.6: Akash Deep to Harry Brook, On a good length, on middle, Brook tucks it to deep mid-wicket for a run. England need 153 runs to win as 12 come off that over.

48.5: Akash Deep to Harry Brook, FOUR! Looking really good for England now! Width on offer, on a length, Harry Brook smashes it to deep point for a cracking boundary.

48.4: Akash Deep to Joe Root, Not the cleanest of teamwork from the two fielders there! Full and outside off, Root strides forward and threads it through the gap between mid off and cover. Ravindra Jadeja and Abhimanyu Easwaran chase the ball, with the latter sliding and flicking the ball to Jadeja, but it is a bit wayward as the ball lands to the right of Jadeja. This allows the batters to cross thrice.

48.3: Akash Deep to Joe Root, On a back of a length, at off, worked down to mid off.

48.2: Akash Deep to Joe Root, FOUR! Races away! Joe Root is looking in great nick! Half volley on middle, Joe Root tilts forward and flicks all along the ground through the vacant mid-wicket region. Prasidh Krishna from mid on chases the ball but it has enough wheels to race away.

48.1: Akash Deep to Joe Root, Attacks the stumps, on a length, Root gets behind the ball and flicks it to wide mid on.

47.6: Mohammed Siraj to Harry Brook, Very full and around the fourth, Harry Brook forces the drive, off the inner half of the bat to mid on.

47.5: Mohammed Siraj to Harry Brook, Slides down leg, full in length, Brook misses the flick.

47.4: Mohammed Siraj to Harry Brook, Ouch! This one skids through the deck, around off, on a hard length, nipping in. Harry Brook shapes to pull and misses and wears it on the back thigh pad.

47.3: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Bowls from a wider angle, short and outside off, Root opens the bat face and cuts it to deep point for an easy single.

47.2: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, On off, and full, blocked watchfully on the front foot.

47.1: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Wide outside off, on a back of a length, Root lets it be.

Mohammed Siraj pulls out of the run-up. He is not feeling comfortable wearing the brace and hands it over to Kumar Dharmasena. The lights are on at The Oval as it has gone dark.

46.6: Akash Deep to Joe Root, Too wide on off, on a fuller length, Joe Root leans on it and drives it to deep point for a single. 

A couple of members from the Indian medical staff are applying a brace on Siraj's left knee.

46.5: Akash Deep to Joe Root, Fuller delivery, on off, driven to mid off.

46.4: Akash Deep to Harry Brook, Around off and middle, on a back of a length, Harry Brook works off the inner half of the bat to deep backward square leg for a single.

46.3: Akash Deep to Harry Brook, On top of off, on a length, Harry Brook hangs back and taps it back to the bowler.

46.2: Akash Deep to Harry Brook, Length, on off, Brook dabbed to the point region.

46.1: Akash Deep to Harry Brook, With Jurel up to the stumps, Akash hits the hard length, outside off, Brook leaves. Sharp one-handed take from Dhruv to his right.

Shubman Gill was heard on the stump mic a couple of overs back asking Akash Deep whether he had taken the injection, suggesting that something might be troubling the pacer physically. Here's Deep back into the attack with Dhruv Jurel up to the stumps. 13-2-44-0 so far for Akash.

45.6: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Nagging length, outside off, Root leaves this harmless delivery.

45.5: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Almost dragged on! Outside off and nipping on from the short length. Joe Root plays on the back foot to punch into the off side, but inside edges onto the back leg and it is parried behind.

45.4: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, On a back of a length, outside off, Root opts to leave.

45.3: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Fuller and outside off, Joe Root strides forward and cracks the drive through covers for a couple of runs. This brings the 100 partnership up between Brook and Root. 

45.2: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Back of a length, outside off, Joe Root walks ahead and dabs it to backward point. Looks for a single, but Washington Sundar from cover is quick enough to get to the ball and Root is sent back. Sundar slips while stopping the ball and that allows Root to retreat.

45.1: Mohammed Siraj to Harry Brook, Fuller and around off, Harry Brook charges forward and guides the ball behind point for a single.

44.6: Washington Sundar to Joe Root, Very full and quick, on middle, Root carves it out to the bowler.

44.5: Washington Sundar to Harry Brook, Had to hurry, but singles keep coming for England! Fuller delivery, on middle, Brook taps it across to the mid-wicket region and takes a quick single. Root sprints to the other end, and gets home before Sudharsan's throw to the keeper.

44.4: Washington Sundar to Joe Root, Yard behind full on middle and leg, Root stays leg side and punches it wide of mid off for a single.

44.3: Washington Sundar to Harry Brook, Wayward and sliding down leg, on a length, Brook tucks it to deep square leg for a single.

44.2: Washington Sundar to Harry Brook, Full and flat on off, Brook defends it off the inner half to the leg side.

44.1: Washington Sundar to Harry Brook, Pushed fuller on off, Brook turns it to short mid-wicket.

43.6: Mohammed Siraj to Harry Brook, The 200 is up for England! Short ball, on middle, Brook weighs back and controls the pull shot along the ground to deep backward square leg. One taken. The crowd cheers for the home side as they get to 200 and now need 174 runs to win.

43.5: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Slides onto the pads, on a short length. Joe Root clips it to deep backward square leg for a single.

43.4: Mohammed Siraj to Harry Brook, On top of middle, on a good length, Harry tucks it through mid-wicket for a single. Brook is keen for the second but the fielder is quick to get on the ball from the deep and Root sends him back in time.

43.3: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Cuts back into the batter, on the pads, Joe Root misses to tuck it across. Dhruv Jurel dives low to his left but fumbles to gather it up and the ball is parried to the deep. They get a bye.

43.2: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, On the stumps, on a length, Root pushes it firmly to mid on.

43.1: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Whoa! Sharp dart into the batter off the pitch, on a hard length, outside off. Joe Root covers the stumps to block but the ball beats his inside edge and goes behind to the keeper.

42.6: Washington Sundar to Harry Brook, Drags back the length, on off, Harry goes deep in the crease and blocks it with soft hands.

42.5: Washington Sundar to Harry Brook, Slides on middle and leg, Brook steers the full ball to mid-wicket.

42.4: Washington Sundar to Harry Brook, FOUR! Top shot! Shortish delivery, outside off, Harry Brook weighs back and punches it to deep cover for a boundary.

42.3: Washington Sundar to Harry Brook, Drifts it away from off, on a length, Brook pats it off the back foot. Abhimanyu Easwaran from short cover cuts it off with the dive to his left.

42.2: Washington Sundar to Joe Root, On the stumps, on a fuller length, Root pushes it through mid on for a single.

42.1: Washington Sundar to Harry Brook, Begins from over the stumps. Floats it full and on middle, Brook drills it down to long on for a single.

Time for spin. Here's Washington Sundar. A slip in place to start with.

41.6: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Kicks off the deck a bit, on a length, on off, Joe Root takes the bottom hand off the bat and negotiates well to stab it onto the pitch.

41.5: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Hard length, on off, Root stays back and blocks it out watchfully.

41.4: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Fired on a good length, jagging back in from off. Joe Root plays over the line to work across, but misses and wears on the thigh pad.

41.3: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, FOUR! Played masterfully! Speared fuller on middle, Joe Root flicks it perfectly between mid-wicket and mid on for a classy boundary.

41.2: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Aimed on the sticks, on a length, Joe shimmies ahead and flicks it to mid-wicket.

41.1: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Sharp nip-backer, around off, on a length. Joe Root tries to dab it to the gully region, but is cut in half as the ball beats his inside edge on the way to the keeper.

Washington Sundar is going off the field. Narayan Jagadeesan replaces him on the park.

40.6: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, Bowls it outside off, on a back of a length, Harry Brook drives on the rise to deep point for a couple of runs.

40.5: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, Fuller on middle, Brook respects and blocks.

40.4: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, On the stumps, and full, pushed off the inner half to mid-wicket.

40.3: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Root flicks this through mid-wicket and gets to the other end.

40.2: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, FIFTY FOR HARRY BROOK! Off just 39 deliveries. His 14th Test fifty, to go with his nine hundreds! Back of a length, outside off, Brook runs it away to deep backward point for a single. Gets to the other end, and calmly raises his bat. He has played fearlessly so far and will be key to England's success in this chase. 

40.1: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, On middle and leg, Root works it to deep mid-wicket for a single. Root into his 30s now!

39.6: Mohammed Siraj to Harry Brook, Brings the stumps into play, on a length, Harry shapes to nudge it across, but misses and wears it onto the body and it drops down the pitch.

39.5: Mohammed Siraj to Harry Brook, Nips into the batter, on a length, on off. Harry Brook tries to push it straight, but inside edges onto the front pad.

39.4: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Full and straight, around off, Joe Root presses ahead and knocks it solidly between mid off and cover for a single.

39.3: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, FOUR! Placed beautifully! Back of a length, shaping away, outside off. Root hangs in the crease and cuts it between gully and backward point for a boundary.

39.2: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, On a length, and outside off, Root is happy to leave.

39.1: Mohammed Siraj to Harry Brook, Fuller and swinging away from off, Brook walks across the stumps and flicks it to the left of mid on for a quick single.

Mohammed Siraj (12-3-44-2) to steam in from the other end.

38.6: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, Outside off, on a length, Brook works it through point for a single. So 11 runs off the first over post Lunch.

38.5: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, EDGED, FOUR! Frustrations multiplying for India already! Back of a length, outside off, Harry Brook tries to cut it square on the off side, but it catches the outside edge and goes between the lone man at slip and gully for a boundary. England need 200 runs to win now!

38.4: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, FOUR! Perfectly timed through the gap! Full and on middle and leg, Harry Brook flicks it through the vacant mid-wicket region. Mohammed Siraj sprints towards the ball from mid on as it teases him all the way to the ropes. Siraj puts in a dive, but the ball wins the race.

38.3: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, Full and angling in on middle, Brook meets the ball right under his eyes to block.

38.2: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Fuller and outside off, Joe Root opens the face of the bat pretty late and guides it to the right of gully. A slight fumble by the fielder on the dive, and the ball goes behind to the deep. Single taken.

38.1: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, Slips in a full toss, below waist height, Harry Brook turns it toward deep backward square leg for a single.

Welcome back for what promises to be another enthralling session, one that could well determine the fate of this Test. There is a bit of cloud cover as the Yorkshire pairing of Joe Root and Harry Brook stride out to the middle. Shubman Gill gathers his men in a huddle for some last words. Prasidh Krishna will kickstart proceedings with the ball for India. A slip and a gully in place for Brook. Let's play...

... DAY 4, SECOND SESSION ...

Brook’s counterpunch has shifted the pressure back on India after all the chatter around the bat early in the session. It has forced the visitors to rethink their plans, so this break will come as a welcome pause. Expect Root to play at his natural tempo while Brook continues to take his chances. India, however, will not mind him playing that way as it creates avenues for a wicket. There has been enough in the surface to trouble the batters and you are never really in as a batter here. Prasidh Krishna, hitting the deck hard, has looked threatening, as has Mohammed Siraj. They could well open the attack after lunch. When Shubman Gill decides to turn to spin will be an interesting call. Join us back at 6.10 pm IST (12.40 pm GMT) for the second session.

Joe Root was not at his fluent best at the crease, while Harry Brook took his time early on before launching a counterattack in typical fashion. He was offered a reprieve on 19, when Siraj stepped on the boundary cushions after completing the catch. In the three overs where Brook went on the offensive, England smashed 34 runs before a touch of serendipity brought the session to a close.

The tourists picked up right where they left off yesterday with disciplined bowling. A gripping battle unfolded between Ben Duckett and Mohammed Siraj, and though Siraj could not dismiss the left-hander himself, India's plan to make Duckett drive straight paid off. With that breakthrough, Prasidh Krishna grew in confidence and bowled well in tandem with Siraj. Siraj then removed Ollie Pope for the second time in the match, just as England were starting to build momentum.

SESSION SUMMARY - 24.1 overs, 114 runs and 2 wickets. An entertaining session with momentum swinging both ways and the honours just about even at the end of it. While India were up and about with the wickets of Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope, Harry Brook’s late assault has swung some momentum back England’s way.

37.6: Akash Deep to Joe Root, Keeps it outside off, on a good length, Root is happy to let it go. And that will be LUNCH on Day 4, with England needing 210 more runs to win!

37.5: Akash Deep to Joe Root, Wide on off, on a fuller length, Joe Root drives it crisply on the front foot, but finds Washington Sundar stationed at cover.

37.4: Akash Deep to Joe Root, On off, and full, Root with a gentle push to mid off.

37.3: Akash Deep to Joe Root, Nagging length, around off, Root strides across and pushes it to point.

37.2: Akash Deep to Harry Brook, Fuller and around off, Harry Brook pushes it straight back at the bowler and while trying to stop the ball, low to his right, Akash is struck on the right shin. The ball then rolls beside the strip on the leg side. Akash limps and is on the ground and with no fielder quick to get to the ball, Brook calls Root through for a single.

37.1: Akash Deep to Joe Root, Tails onto the pads, on a length, Root tucks behind square on the leg side for an easy single.

Last over before lunch coming up.

36.6: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Length ball, outside off, Root lets the ball arrive and taps it between cover and point for a single.

36.5: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Yorker, on off, Root jams the bat down in time and the ball is squeezed off the bat, and goes between Root's legs to the on side.

36.4: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, The stumps are attacked on a length, Joe Root gets behind the line and tucks it to the leg side.

36.3: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Short, outside off, dabbed to gully off the back foot.

36.2: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Good-length delivery, outside off, Root rises on the toes and taps it to gully.

36.1: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, Hits the deck hard, outside off, Harry Brook plays closer to the body and dabs to the right of KL Rahul at second slip. KL fumbles and parries the ball to his right and this allows Brook and Root to cross strikes.

35.6: Akash Deep to Joe Root, Straight, full, on off, Root responds with a forward block.

35.5: Akash Deep to Joe Root, On top of off, on a length, Root solidly punches off the back foot to cover.

35.4: Akash Deep to Joe Root, Floats down leg, on a good length, Joe Root misses to clip to the leg side as it keeps sliding down.

35.4: Akash Deep to Joe Root, FIVE WIDES! Ordinary bowling! The bowlers seem to have gone off the radar after that assault! Deep errs in line, throws it way down leg, on a length. Joe Root lets it be and the ball races behind to deep fine leg fence. This also brings up the 50 partnership between Root and Brook.

35.3: Akash Deep to Joe Root, Landed on a length, outside off, nips away, Root leaves.

35.2: Akash Deep to Harry Brook, Serves it on a hard length, on off, Brook taps the ball on its head to the right of gully for a run.

35.1: Akash Deep to Joe Root, On a nagging length, outside off, Root glides it down to deep third for a single.

34.6: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, Around off and full, Brook blocks it back.

34.5: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, FOUR! Smartly played! Runs flowing for England now! 150 comes up in no time! Short of a length, around off, Harry Brook plays it late and flays it above the slip cordon for a boundary.

34.4: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, Good work by Yashasvi Jaiswal in the deep! Saves two for his side. Back of a length, outside off, Brook smokes it through cover and point and rushes back for the second run. Yashasvi Jaiswal from deep third sprints and slides to his right and intercepts the ball. His feet do contact the ropes, but he manages to flick the ball inside the playing area. It is backed up well by Washington Sundar, who converges and throws it back to the keeper.

34.3: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, FOUR! SLAM! Back of a length, outside off, Harry Brook dances down the track and whacks it hard over covers for a cracking boundary.

34.2: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, Good follow-up delivery as Brook's outside edge is beaten with the ball shaping away late.

34.1: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, SIX! Would you believe it? Short from Prasidh, around off. Kicks off from the deck a bit. Harry Brook shapes to pull, but gets a bit of a top edge. It flies straight up in the air, over deep backward square leg. Siraj settles under it comfortably, takes the catch and isn't quite aware of the boundary ropes behind him and his feet land right on the cushions with the ball in his hand. Krishna has his arms aloft as he thinks Siraj has caught it safely, but realises later that Siraj has stepped on the boundary cushions and one can clearly catch the contrasting emotions on his face. Siraj has his hands on his face in utter disappointment. 

Prasidh Krishna to continue. Mohammed Siraj is back on the park.

33.6: Akash Deep to Joe Root, Slides it down leg, on a length. Joe Root gets inside the line to glance it away, but misses. Dhruv Jurel collects it on the dive to his left.

33.5: Akash Deep to Harry Brook, Goes short now, outside off, Harry Brook covers the off stump and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

33.4: Akash Deep to Harry Brook, SIX! This is as flat as it could be! Terrific ball-striking from Brook! Akash keeps it outside off, on a fullish length. Harry Brook dances down the pitch and spanks it flat in the air, and clears the deep extra cover fence for half a dozen.

33.3: Akash Deep to Harry Brook, FOUR! PUNISHED! Akash pulls the length back, around off, Harry Brook picks the length in a trice, transfers the weight on the back foot and pulls it over short mid-wicket for a boundary.

33.2: Akash Deep to Harry Brook, Pitched full and curving away, Brook shimmies down the track and drives it to the off side, but straight to the man at cover.

33.1: Akash Deep to Harry Brook, BEATEN! A bit of a loose shot from Brook! Lateral away shape from outside off, on a length. Harry Brook plays at the delivery without much footwork and is beaten on the outside edge.

32.6: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, FOUR! Excellent stroke! Root moves into his 20s! PK overstretches his length, goes very full and outside off. Joe Root leans himself on the ball and cracks the cover drive for a boundary. England's target shrinks below 250 now.

32.5: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Nip-backer on middle, Joe Root gets right behind it and stabs it back to the bowler.

32.4: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Fires it full and on off, Joe Root presses forward and forces it across to mid on.

32.3: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, In-between length, outside off, Brook stands tall and cuts it to deep backward point for an easy single.

32.2: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, Slams the length hard, outside off, Brook gets on the back foot and taps it out to backward point.

32.1: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, Back of a length, outside off, Brook covers the stumps and dabs it behind with soft hands to gully.

31.6: Akash Deep to Joe Root, Root stands a yard outside the popping crease and firmly pushes this full delivery to mid on.

31.5: Akash Deep to Joe Root, Similar line, but the length is pulled back, Root offers no shot as the ball swings away from him.

31.4: Akash Deep to Joe Root, Nice and full, moving away outside off, Root does not play at it.

31.3: Akash Deep to Joe Root, Bowls from a wider angle, outside off, on a fullish length. Joe Root reaches it to go through covers, but the ball hits the inside half of the bat and rolls to the pitch.

31.2: Akash Deep to Joe Root, Overpitched outside off, Root pushes it off the toe end, to the left of the bowler.

31.1: Akash Deep to Joe Root, Full, curving away, outside off, Joe drives it straight to the cover fielder.

30.6: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, EDGED, FOUR! Shubman Gill is perhaps ruing his decision to remove that catcher from gully. Yard behind full and outside off, shaping away. Harry Brook tries to force the drive on off side, but the ball goes off the outside edge and runs through the right of the third slip fielder for a boundary.

30.5: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, Speared full and on middle, Harry Brook leans on and blocks off.

30.4: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Short of a good length, onto the pads, Joe Root glances it behind backward square leg for a single.

30.3: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, Full, straight, outside off, Harry Brook drives through cover-point for a single.

30.2: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, Darts into the batter after pitching, on a length, Harry Brook stands tall and dabs it down the pitch.

30.1: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, Aims the stumps, on a length, Harry Brook blocks right under his eyes.

That should be it for Mohammed Siraj in this spell. Siraj is going off the field, possibly for a breather. Narayan Jagadeesan comes on as the substitute.

29.6: Mohammed Siraj to Harry Brook, Pushes it across and down the leg stump line, full in length, Harry Brook clips it to deep backward square leg for an easy single.

29.5: Mohammed Siraj to Harry Brook, Length-delivery, slanting into the batter, Harry Brook tucks it off the back foot to mid on.

29.4: Mohammed Siraj to Harry Brook, Holds onto bowling around the fourth and fifth stump line, and gets it to shape away a bit. Harry Brook gets forward and shoulders arms at it.

29.3: Mohammed Siraj to Harry Brook, A tempter but well left by Brook. Full and outside off, goes straight on off the deck. Brook is happy to let it go.

29.2: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Keeps hitting the hard length, does Siraj, around off, jagging back in. Joe Root rises on the bounce to work it off side but gets a thick inside edge. The ball rolls through square leg and they jog off for a single.

29.1: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Bashed on the hard length, veering into the batter after pitching, on middle. Joe Root is hurried on the pull shot and misses and is hit around the box.

28.6: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Very full and around off, Joe Root blocks the ball on the front foot and it bumps over the head of the bowler. It is cut off by mid off to his right and they cross for a single.

28.5: Prasidh Krishna to Harry Brook, Just outside off, nibbling away from the length, Harry Brook weighs forward and steers it past point for a single.

28.4: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Bangs short and on off, Joe dabs it between gully and backward point for a quick single.

28.3: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, FOUR! What a glorious shot! Yard behind full length, outside off, Joe Root leans onto the ball, maintains perfect shape and drives it through cover and point for a boundary. Classic cricketing shot which takes him into the double digits.

28.2: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Lads it on a length, outside off with some bounce. Joe steers it to the point region.

28.1: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Slams the ball on a length, nipping into the batter, on middle and leg. Joe Root plays over the line to block, but it bounces up and beats the inside edge to rap him on the thigh pad.

27.6: Mohammed Siraj to Harry Brook, Touch full with a tinge of an away shape, on off, Harry Brook gets forward to defend, but inside edges towards wide mid-wicket.

27.5: Mohammed Siraj to Harry Brook, Back of a length, on middle, Harry gets behind the line and blocks it on the pitch.

27.4: Mohammed Siraj to Harry Brook, Follows up with an effort ball. A sharp bumper, does Siraj, on the leg stump line. Harry Brook ducks under it safely.

Harry Brook is in at number 5.

27.3: Mohammed Siraj to Ollie Pope, OUT! LBW! Mohammed Siraj strikes just as England were starting to get some momentum. Mohammed Siraj dishes out another wobble-seam delivery, on a good length. It lands and then nips back into the batter sharply to catch Ollie Pope off guard. The English skipper is pinned in the crease and tries to block, but plays all over the wrong line, getting beaten on the inside edge, and is rapped on the flap of the front pad. A huge, confident appeal for LBW, and up goes the finger! Ollie Pope is not that confident and walks up to Joe Root to have a chat. With just a couple of seconds remaining on the timer, he signals the 'T', looking down at the floor. UltraEdge shows no bat and Ball Tracking comes up with three reds. Ollie Pope departs after another start - 27 (34) and England are 106/3, needing another 268 runs to win.

27.2: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Short of a length, on off, Joe hops on the crease and steers it behind point for a single.

27.1: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, FOUR! Hat Trick of boundaries for England! Outswinger, outside off, on a length. Joe Root presses forward and caresses it through point for a boundary. Didn't try to hit it too hard, just pure timing on that one. England are flying after the hydration break.

26.6: Prasidh Krishna to Ollie Pope, FOUR! Quite ordinary from Krishna! The length is pulled back, around off and middle. Ollie Pope pulls it from the crease and gets it past square leg, to his right for a boundary. And that brings up the 100 for England! England need 273 runs to win!

26.5: Prasidh Krishna to Ollie Pope, FOUR! Through the gap! Angling on the leg stump, a bit too full, Ollie Pope flicks it between mid-wicket and mid on for a boundary.

26.4: Prasidh Krishna to Ollie Pope, Length, outside off, Ollie Pope gets on top of the ball and punches it through point for a couple of runs as Yashasvi Jaiswal intercepts it from deep third. Slips in the process to stop the ball and looks in a bit of discomfort and stretches a bit to relax himself up.

26.3: Prasidh Krishna to Ollie Pope, Back of a length, on the stumps, stabbed down to mid on.

26.2: Prasidh Krishna to Ollie Pope, FOUR! Lovely stroke! Another very full delivery, on middle and leg, Ollie Pope plays with a straight bat and steady head to drive it to the left of mid on for a crisp boundary.

26.1: Prasidh Krishna to Ollie Pope, Overpitched outside off, Pope carves out to cover.

DRINKS BREAK! It's been a fascinating first hour of play at The Oval, with a proper tussle between bat and ball. Duckett and Pope began cautiously, navigating the early movement with care. Duckett, involved in a lively brawl with several plays and misses against Siraj, gradually found his rhythm and brought up a well-earned fifty. But the bowling change did the trick for India as Prasidh Krishna tempted him into a loose stroke and found the breakthrough. Krishna has looked sharp and with a bit of overcast conditions, the ball has just done enough mischief to keep the batters honest. However, England would be the happier side if they see through the remaining session without any loss of a wicket. We have enough time left in this Test and the pressure is more on the Indian side to pick up wickets. The tourists would be keen to get Root fished out before Lunch. Another gripping hour to follow. 

25.6: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Full and on off, driven to mid off.

25.5: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, On a length, on middle, Root wrists it to mid-wicket.

25.4: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, An appeal for caught behind but the umpire shakes his head! Ravindra Jadeja charges in from mid off and he is pretty convinced. There was no reaction from the slip cordon and it was Jadeja and Siraj who went up. Shubman Gill resists the temptation and opts against the review. On a hard length, angled in, on the off stump, Root plays inside the line and the ball sneaks past the outside edge before going into the mitts of Dhruv Jurel. The UltraEdge shows a flat line.

25.3: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, On a good length, on the off stump, Root defends close to his body.

25.2: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, A loose shot but Joe Root gets away with it! This curves away from the right-hander, on a back of a length, Root hops and instead of going with a horizontal bat, he goes at it with an angled bat to punch it away. Root is lucky not to nick this one behind.

25.1: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Moving away, on a length, Joe Root lets it be.

24.6: Prasidh Krishna to Ollie Pope, Length delivery, outside off, Ollie Pope miscues the drive off the inner half back to the bowler.

24.5: Prasidh Krishna to Ollie Pope, Oh, my! Prasidh Krishna is in a great rhythm. This is dug in short, around the right shoulder. Pope arches back for the upper cut but is beaten for pace and the ball keeps climbing. Dhruv Jurel sticks out his left glove on the leap and prevents the ball from going past him.

24.4: Prasidh Krishna to Ollie Pope, Pitched up, at the stumps, whipped firmly towards mid on where Akash Deep is quick to get low and make the stop to his right.

24.3: Prasidh Krishna to Ollie Pope, Fuller in length, outside off, Pope eases the drive to mid off.

24.2: Prasidh Krishna to Ollie Pope, Sharp nip-backer from Prasidh, on middle, on a short of a length, Ollie hops to deal with it and is beaten onto the thigh pad.

24.1: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, A confident shout for LBW but not given! India think about it but decide against the review. Seemed to be going down leg or umpire's call at best. This comes back into the right-hander, on a good length, Joe is caught in his crease on the flick. Gets beaten on the inside edge and the ball raps the front pad. A leg bye is taken as the ball goes off the pads on the off side. The Ball Tracking shows that the ball is clipping the leg stump and it would have been umpire's call.

23.6: Mohammed Siraj to Ollie Pope, A flash and a miss! Siraj pushes it away from the right-hander, on a good length, Ollie Pope throws his hands at the ball well away from his body and gets beaten all ends up.

23.5: Mohammed Siraj to Ollie Pope, Angled in from wide of the crease, on a good length, Ollie Pope defends it from the crease.

23.4: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, On a back of a length, outside off, Ollie taps it wide of point for a single.

23.3: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, Fuller and wider on off, Joe Root offers no shot.

23.2: Mohammed Siraj to Ollie Pope, Bangs it on a hard length, around off, Ollie Pope is uncertain whether to leave or play it. Keeps his bat hanging and the ball runs off the face of the bat. Importantly for Pope, it goes down and wide of gully for a single.

23.1: Mohammed Siraj to Joe Root, On the off stump, on a good length, Joe drops it with soft hands to the left of cover-point and takes a quick single.

22.6: Prasidh Krishna to Ollie Pope, Very full, outside off, the width is there but Ollie does not manage to cash in. Mistimes the drive to mid off.

22.5: Prasidh Krishna to Joe Root, Attacking the front pad, on a good length, Root brings his bat out in front and knocks it wide of mid-wicket for a single.

England's finest, Joe Root, walks in at 4.

22.4: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! The change has worked for India! After several plays and misses, Ben Duckett finally runs out of luck. This is a scrambled seam delivery from around the wicket and the length is fuller, around off, Duckett goes for the drive towards mid off but does not move his feet at all. The ball nips away enough to catch the outside edge and it goes to the right of second slip. KL Rahul takes a safe catch at waist height. Duckett falls for 54 (83). England are now 82/2.

22.3: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, A bit more effort on this one from PK, on a nagging length, on the off stump, solidly defended from the crease.

22.2: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, Beaten! Krishna gets the ball to kick up from a back of a length, in the channel on off, Ben Duckett pokes and is beaten on the outside edge.

22.1: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, Prasidh begins from around the wicket and bowls it on a back of a length, around the off stump, Ben pushes it to cover.

Prasidh Krishna (5-1-23-0) replaces Akash Deep from the Vauxhall End.

21.6: Mohammed Siraj to Ollie Pope, A sharp and quick bumper from Siraj, at the right shoulder of the batter, Ollie Pope gets into a tangle as he hops to get the pull shot away but then decides to drop his wrists.

21.5: Mohammed Siraj to Ollie Pope, Slanting back in on the off pole, on a length, Pope stabs it down.

21.4: Mohammed Siraj to Ben Duckett, On a short of a length, outside off, punched away to deep point for one.

21.3: Mohammed Siraj to Ben Duckett, Mohammed Siraj comes from around the wicket and lands it on a good length, outside off, Ben Duckett tries to cash in on the width and has a waft at the delivery but misses. Siraj cuts a frustrating figure.

21.2: Mohammed Siraj to Ben Duckett, On a short of a length, on off, Ben Duckett glides it with an open bat face to the right of deep backward point for a couple of runs.

21.1: Mohammed Siraj to Ben Duckett, FOUR! Edged away! Ben Duckett gets to his FIFTY in a streaky fashion! Duckett has had to grind it out but has looked up for the fight. This is the 16th Test fifty of the southpaw's career. This is on a good length, around off, Ben Duckett is squared up as the ball leaves him on the defence. Gets an outside edge that goes on the bounce and beats the diving Sai Sudharsan at gully to his right for a boundary.

20.6: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, On a good length, on middle, Duckett tucks it in front of square on the leg side for a single.

20.5: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, Half a shout for caught behind! The slip cordon heard something but they are not convinced enough to go for the review. A well-directed bumper from Akash, at the badge of the helmet, Ben Duckett looks to get on top of it for the pull. The ball sneaks under the blade and goes behind towards the keeper.

20.4: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, Deep errs in line as he offers width on off, fractionally short, Ben Duckett cuts it in front of square and comes back for the second run as Abhimanyu Easwaran tidies up.

20.3: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, Closer to the off stump and the length stays up there, Ben knocks it back to Akash.

20.2: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, Full again, Ben Duckett gets on the front foot and defends solidly.

20.1: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, Pitched up, in the corridor of off, Ben Duckett gets closer to the line and blocks it out.

19.6: Mohammed Siraj to Ollie Pope, This is on a back of a length, on the off stump, Ollie Pope hops back and taps it back to Siraj. A productive over for England. 11 runs off it.

19.5: Mohammed Siraj to Ollie Pope, Honing in on the front pad, on a good length, Pope gets his front foot across and wrists it to the left of deep backward square leg for a couple of runs.

19.4: Mohammed Siraj to Ollie Pope, In the channel on off, on a good length, OP arches back and lets it go.

19.3: Mohammed Siraj to Ollie Pope, FOUR! Nicely done! Mohammed Siraj tries the nip-backer but the line is a bit too straight, on the pads, on a length, Pope helps it down to deep fine leg for a boundary.

19.2: Mohammed Siraj to Ben Duckett, Drags the length back, on the off stump, Duckett gets on top of it and punches it to deep point for a single.

19.1: Mohammed Siraj to Ben Duckett, FOUR! Creamed away! This will help Ben Duckett feel better. Angled away, on a length, Ben Duckett gets the width he needs and frees his arms. Cracks it between cover and mid off for a boundary.

18.6: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, Angled away, on a good length, Ben guides it wide of gully for a single. Sai Sudharsan moves to his left and cuts it off with a slide. Round 2 of the Siraj vs Duckett battle coming up!

18.5: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, On a length, going across the batter, Ben Duckett plants his front foot forward for the drive but mishits it down the deck to the right of the bowler. Akash Deep gets a hand to it and the ball deflects towards mid off.

18.4: Akash Deep to Ollie Pope, Serves it on a nagging length, on the off stump, Ollie presses back and dabs it wide of cover for a single.

18.3: Akash Deep to Ollie Pope, Full and attacking the stumps, Pope does not move his feet at all and the bat turns in his hand. The ball rolls off the inner half to mid-wicket.

18.2: Akash Deep to Ollie Pope, A hint of away shape in the air, outside off, on a length, Ollie Pope sets up for the drive. Miscues the shot off the inner half towards mid-wicket.

18.1: Akash Deep to Ollie Pope, Zeroining on the off pole, on a length, Pope covers the line and pushes it to mid on.

17.6: Mohammed Siraj to Ben Duckett, Another play and a miss! A probing over from Siraj. At 144 kph, on the fuller side, Ben Duckett is drawn forward in defence but the ball cuts away to go past the outside edge.

17.5: Mohammed Siraj to Ben Duckett, Missed out! Short and wide on off, there to be put away, Duckett's eyes light up and he throws his hands at the ball but misses as the ball goes over the flailing blade.

17.4: Mohammed Siraj to Ben Duckett, An absolute beauty! Best of the lot from Siraj. On a hard length, this runs across the batter, Ben Duckett hangs on the back foot and presents a straight bat to play the line. The ball nips away and zips past the outside edge.

17.3: Mohammed Siraj to Ben Duckett, Another pushed across the batter, on a good length, Ben taps it towards cover.

17.2: Mohammed Siraj to Ben Duckett, And again! Wobble seam delivery, which is angled away from over the wicket, on a good length, Duckett pokes at the delivery and is beaten on the outside edge.

17.1: Mohammed Siraj to Ben Duckett, Beaten! Angling across the batter, on a good length, Ben Duckett has a feel for the delivery but is lucky not to nick this one behind.

16.6: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, Angled in, on off, on a good length, Duckett works it to the left of mid on for a single.

16.5: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, On off, on a back of a length, pushed towards point. And Yashasvi Jaiswal walks up once again and encourages Akash Deep with a few words while being in the vicinity of the batter.

16.4: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, On a good length, on the off stump, defended by Ben Duckett.

16.3: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, Akash is back to around the wicket. On a back of a length, on off, Duckett stays back and blocks.

16.2: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, Deep changes his angle of attack as he comes from over the wicket, angled away, on a good length, Duckett defends it off the back foot. Yashasvi Jaiswal from square leg walks towards the pitch and is right in the ear of the batter.

16.1: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, On a nagging length, on off, Ben Duckett gets behind the line and jabs it with an angled bat towards mid on.

15.6: Mohammed Siraj to Ollie Pope, Just outside the off stump, on a back of a length, played with a straight bat to the right of the bowler.

15.5: Mohammed Siraj to Ollie Pope, Bowled from wide of the crease, jagging back into the right-hander, on a good length, on middle, Ollie brings his bat out in front of the front pad and whips it to mid-wicket. A lot of chatter around the bat. The Indians are up and about this morning.

15.4: Mohammed Siraj to Ollie Pope, On a short of a good length, outside off, cut away to backward point.

15.3: Mohammed Siraj to Ollie Pope, FOUR! Uppish but Ollie Pope gets away with it! Shaping away, fuller in length, around off, Pope is lured into the drive and is early into the shot. It goes on the bounce to cover where the substitute fielder, Abhimanyu Easwaran, fails to get his body behind the ball and gets down on his knees to make the stop. Gets his hands to his left but the ball goes past him for a boundary.

15.2: Mohammed Siraj to Ollie Pope, On the shorter side, over off, Ollie hangs back and keeps it out.

15.1: Mohammed Siraj to Ben Duckett, Pushed across the left-hander, on a short of a length, Ben gets on top of it and cuts it to deep point for a run.

14.6: Akash Deep to Ollie Pope, This is on a hard length, around off, Ollie stands tall and stabs it down on the off side.

14.5: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, This nips back a touch, on a good length, on the line of the off stump, Duckett is found searching for the ball a bit away from his body. The ball catches the inside edge and rolls to deep fine leg for one.

14.4: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, Honing in on the off stump, on a length, Ben Duckett is slighly squared up and taps it to cover.

14.3: Akash Deep to Ollie Pope, At 137 kph, attacking the front pad from over the wicket, on a good length, Ollie Pope brings his bat out in front. Ekes out an inside edge down to deep fine leg for a single to get off the mark.

14.2: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, Fuller in length, on the off stump, Duckett presents a straight bat for the block but plays a bit inside the line. Gets it off the outer half to the left of gully for a single.

14.1: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, Deep begins from around the wicket and bashes the hard length, on middle, Ben Duckett hops and nudges it to mid-wicket.

Akash Deep (5-1-15-0) to bowl from the other end.

13.6: Mohammed Siraj to Ollie Pope, Siraj steams in from over the wicket and pitches it up, around off, Ollie plants his front foot forward and firms the drive down the ground where it is cut off by the diving mid off fielder to his right.

We are in all readiness for Day 4 to commence at the Kennington Oval. Remember, today, like yesterday, the first session will last two hours, followed by two extended sessions later in the day. The umpires and players punctually make their way out to the middle. The Indians scatter out of the brief team huddle and take their respective positions. Ben Duckett, unbeaten on 34, is joined by the English captain, Ollie Pope, at the crease. Mohammed Siraj (3.5-1-11-1) to complete his remaining over. Here we go...

PITCH REPORT - Varun Aaron is pitchside. He says it is still a good batting wicket and does not see too many demons in the surface but expects some lateral movement and uneven bounce. Mentions that there are quite a few divots when bowling from the Pavilion End, especially around the fifth stump line, which could aid movement back into the right-handers, something Mohammed Siraj can exploit. Believes that accuracy will be key for the Indian bowlers.

The sun is out for the second day in a row at The Oval, so it should make for good batting conditions. England have used the heavy roller, which should keep the surface settled for the first half hour or so.

Yet, this is no time for comfort. England bat deep, and their linchpin, Joe Root, is still waiting in the wings. If there’s one thing Bazball has taught us over the years, it’s that this side doesn’t tiptoe toward targets. They hunt them down with intent and audacity. One thing’s clear. Indian bowlers need to bring their A-game today. The chase is on, and the first hour becomes very crucial from both teams’ perspectives. The one who dominates it, will hold the aces. Confidence meets conviction, and it is all set up beautifully in this final frontier. Stay tuned as the first ball of Day 4 is just around the corner.

Batting looked far more breathable on day three, with the morning sun offering some respite and the pitch easing up just enough. But as the clouds rolled in and the light dimmed, the ball began to whisper again. England, for the most part, navigated the climax of the day unscathed, thanks to another brisk opening stand from Crawley and Duckett. Just as the ghosts of Headingley began to stir and the momentum threatened to swing England’s way, the final over delivered a twist. Siraj’s searing yorker that couldn’t have come at a better time restored equilibrium in the contest.

The equations for both sides are crystal clear. England need 324 runs, another monumental chase that would demand resilience, precision, and a touch of audacity to carve their place in history once more. India, meanwhile, are eight incisive deliveries away from sealing a second straight triumph against England at The Oval. A venue where they tasted glory in 2021 by setting a near-identical target and winning with commanding authority. The hosts, however, arrive brimming with belief, riding the high of their Leeds masterclass.

The stakes are high and the margins razor-thin. The theme of the day, fittingly, is prevention. The hosts are determined to prevent a series draw and close out the summer with a statement win. The tourists, meanwhile, are desperate to prevent a series defeat, clinging to every opportunity to turn the tide. It’s been a contest where no inch has been ceded. The pitch has offered just enough to keep bowlers interested, while batters have had to earn their keep. And through it all, cricket has stayed true, raw, riveting, and relentlessly competitive.

Sunday feels like the end, even though there are technically two days left in this Test. England’s Test summer trudges toward its conclusion through a match that’s refused to behave. It’s been messy, unpredictable, and utterly gripping. The match sits perfectly balanced, and the tension’s about to reach breaking point. Welcome to the fourth day's coverage of what could be the defining day of this entire summer.

... DAY 4, FIRST SESSION ...

Well, if you look at the scores, they have progressively increased with each innings, and especially on Day 3, batting wasn’t as tough a task as it had been over the first two days. When India came out to bowl, the ball wasn’t doing plenty, but there was enough in the surface, particularly the bounce, to catch the English openers by surprise. India will hope that it does more come Day 4 and doesn’t ease out. England did hunt down 371 at Headingley, but that came on a much better surface. 374 has never been chased successfully in Tests at The Oval, so if Ollie Pope and Co. manage to pull it off, history will indeed be made. Day 4 might well be the final day of the series. The first ball will be bowled at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT), but as always, we will be with you early for the build-up. Until then, take care and goodbye!

England managed to strike in quick succession with the second new ball through Josh Tongue, and at that point, with nine down, India’s lead stood at 334. However, Washington Sundar launched an assault, racing to a 39-ball fifty and pushing the total well past 350. The tourists, who began the day with a 52-run lead, finished with a lead of 373, with Tongue finishing with a five-wicket haul.

The second session saw Jaiswal bring up his hundred, but it was also a phase of course correction from England. Having been a touch too short in the first session, the English pace attack adjusted their lengths well to reap the rewards. While the flurry of wickets the hosts were after did not materialise, by striking at regular intervals, they did not allow India to run away with the game.

Earlier, the day began under bright blue skies in stark contrast to the overcast conditions of the first two days. It was not just the picture overhead that had changed. The 22 yards had a different look too, with the greenish tinge giving way to a browner surface. That meant batting was not as challenging as before. Akash Deep cashed in during the morning session with a maiden Test fifty in a 107-run stand with Yashasvi Jaiswal.

A dramatic end to another captivating day of cricket! India finish on a high. The job was nearly done for England, but that late dent takes some shine off what was otherwise a steady start. The scoring from the openers wasn’t as brisk as they usually prefer, but to India's credit, they maintained disciplined lines and had well-thought-out in-out fields to cut down the boundaries. Ben Duckett took a nasty blow on the left hand and managed to hold firm, but his partner fell on what ended up being the last ball of the day.

13.5: Mohammed Siraj to Zak Crawley, OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! What a finish for India to the day's play! Mohammed Siraj produces a lethal delivery to provide the first breakthrough for India! The bluff has worked as Yashasvi Jaiswal was just pushed back to deep square leg before this delivery. Siraj spears in a pinpoint yorker, landing it just in front of the base of the off pole. Zak Crawley expected a short ball but is forced to bend low to squeeze it out, but the ball jags in and beats the bat to smash into the stumps behind. A wicket for India on the penultimate delivery of the day and England are 50/1, needing 324 runs to win. And that will be STUMPS ON DAY 3!

13.4: Mohammed Siraj to Zak Crawley, Fired into the batter, on a length, Zak Crawley forces it down to mid on.

13.3: Mohammed Siraj to Zak Crawley, Pulls the length back, on off, Zak Crawley hops on the crease and crunches it to the covers.

13.2: Mohammed Siraj to Zak Crawley, Outswinging delivery, full and around off, Zak drives it to mid off.

Zak Crawley pulls out with Mohammed Siraj charging in. Looks like someone moved behind the bowler's arm. 

13.1: Mohammed Siraj to Zak Crawley, Pitched on a length, outside off, Zak Crawley leaves it alone.

We have 3 minutes left in the day and this should be the final over.

12.6: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, Misfield and the 50 comes up for England! Very full and outside off, Ben Duckett drives it along the ground to the right of cover. Mohammed Siraj dives but the ball evades through to the deep and they cross twice. England need 324 runs to win!

12.5: Prasidh Krishna to Zak Crawley, Onto the pads, on a length, Zak Crawley tries to flick it but wears on the thigh pad and the ball then rolls in front of covers. They do get a leg bye.

12.4: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, Too full and on middle, Ben Duckett looks to knock it to mid on, but closes the bat early and the ball goes off the leading edge to deep backward point. They cross.

12.3: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, Deviates away from a length, outside off, Ben Duckett offers no shot at it.

12.2: Prasidh Krishna to Zak Crawley, The stumps are aimed again by Krishna, full and on middle, Zak Crawley pushes it to the left of mid on and calls Ben through for a quick single.

12.1: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, Attacks the stumps, full in length, Ben steers it away through square leg for a single.

There are 8 minutes left in the day, so we should be able to squeeze in a couple more overs before stumps.

11.6: Mohammed Siraj to Zak Crawley, Oh, a whistler of a delivery! Keeps it full and around off, straightening just enough to flirt past the outside edge as Zak tries to drive straight without footwork.

11.5: Mohammed Siraj to Zak Crawley, Hits the deck hard, swinging away, outside off, Zak Crawley is happy to leave.

11.4: Mohammed Siraj to Zak Crawley, Pitched a yard behind full and nipping in, on off, Zak defends it off the inner half of the bat to square leg.

11.3: Mohammed Siraj to Ben Duckett, Hard length, on middle, Ben Duckett stays in the crease, lets the ball arrive, opens the bat face late to guide it away to deep backward point. They stroll for a single.

11.2: Mohammed Siraj to Ben Duckett, On middle on a length, nudged off the back foot to mid-wicket.

11.1: Mohammed Siraj to Ben Duckett, Pitched wide on off, full in length, Ben Duckett shoulders arms to it.

10.6: Prasidh Krishna to Zak Crawley, Cannoned fuller and on middle, Zak Crawley drills it down the ground. But since the man at mid on is very straight, he cuts it off to his left.

10.5: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, On middle and leg, on a good length, nudged wide of mid-wicket for a single.

Halt! A nasty blow on the left hand for Ben Duckett. The physio is out to check on Duckett. The southpaw is ready to resume, or is he? Ben puts the gloves back on and grimaces in pain. Zak Crawley walks over to check on his partner. Duckett is now finally ready to resume.

10.4: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, Ouch, that must have hurt! Back of a length, cutting back in with extra bounce. Ben Duckett is caught in the crease to work it to the leg side, but gets a nasty blow on the left glove. 

10.3: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, An appeal for caught behind from Dhruv Jurel and Shubman Gill from behind the stumps, but Prasidh Krishna turns around and walks back to the bowling mark. Just outside off, nipping away from the good length. Ben Duckett is forced to play at it and the ball zips past the outside edge.

10.2: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, This one nips in from off, on the good length. Ben Duckett covers the stumps and works it to mid on.

10.1: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, Prasidh Krishna is back on. Moves away late off the seam, full and outside off, Ben pokes at it to block, and is beaten on the outside edge.

9.6: Mohammed Siraj to Zak Crawley, Nip-backer from middle, on a length. Zak Crawley pushes at the delivery from the crease but misses and the ball thuds his thigh pad.

9.5: Mohammed Siraj to Zak Crawley, On top of middle and off, hard length, Zak Crawley walks forward and steers it to the point region.

9.4: Mohammed Siraj to Zak Crawley, Jags in from outside off, on a length, Zak Crawley punches it to mid on.

9.3: Mohammed Siraj to Ben Duckett, Full and on middle, Ben flicks it to the left of mid-wicket for a quick single.

9.2: Mohammed Siraj to Ben Duckett, EDGED AND FOUR! Pushed across off, full in length, Ben Duckett flashes hard at it, but gets a thick outside edge and the ball shoots wide of the gully fielder to his left for a boundary.

9.1: Mohammed Siraj to Ben Duckett, Full and on off, Ben Duckett prods forward and blocks it out to short cover.

8.6: Akash Deep to Zak Crawley, Good length, on off, punched to wide mid off.

8.5: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, Misfield from Ravindra Jadeja! That doesn't happen often! Full and on middle, Duckett heaves across to the left of mid on, where Ravindra Jadeja dives to stop the ball, but the ball gets past him. Gets up on his feet and manages to chase the ball before the ropes. By the time the batters run three.

8.4: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, Fuller delivery, on the stumps, Ben Duckett push-drives it straight down the ground for a couple of runs as mid on cuts it off to his left.

8.3: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, Angling into the stumps, on a length, Ben Duckett knocks it to the left of the bowler to mid on.

8.2: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, Short and outside off, Ben hangs back and taps it out to cover.

8.1: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, Around the stumps, short of a length, skidding through the deck, on off, Ben Duckett squares up and keeps it out to the off side.

7.6: Mohammed Siraj to Zak Crawley, On the back of a length, slightly outside off, Zak Crawley watchfully leaves it. Final 30 minutes of the day coming up.

7.5: Mohammed Siraj to Zak Crawley, Good length, on off, shaping away, Zak presses forward and blocks it out confidently.

7.4: Mohammed Siraj to Ben Duckett, Touch full and on the stumps, Ben clips it along the ground to backward square leg, and the ball is cut off to his left by Abhimanyu Easwaran, the substitute fielder. One taken.

7.3: Mohammed Siraj to Ben Duckett, FOUR! There's the pressure-releasing stroke! A bit too full and just outside off, Ben Duckett weighs on the front foot and caresses it through wide mid off for a boundary.

7.2: Mohammed Siraj to Ben Duckett, Hard length, on the stumps, turned to backward square leg.

7.1: Mohammed Siraj to Ben Duckett, Oh, almost chopped on! Begins from over the stumps, does Siraj, and fires in at the stumps, on a length, with an inward shape. Ben Duckett is cramped for room and tries to work it to the leg side. But gets an inside edge onto the pad and the ball then rolls just beside the off pole. Duckett tries to kick the ball away, but misses to do so.

Mohammed Siraj comes into the attack, replacing Prasidh Krishna.

6.6: Akash Deep to Zak Crawley, Back-to-back maidens for India! Back of a length, angled down leg, Zak Crawley looks to nudge it across, but misses to connect.

6.5: Akash Deep to Zak Crawley, BEAUTY! Shapes in and then curves away late from the batter, on a good length. Zak Crawley is drawn forward to block, plays inside the line and the ball flirts past the outside edge, on the way to the keeper.

6.4: Akash Deep to Zak Crawley, In front of the stumps, on a fuller length, Zak pushes it to mid on.

6.3: Akash Deep to Zak Crawley, Big swing and a miss! Pitched just around off, nipping away on a shortish length. Zak Crawley swings rashly at it and connects only with thin air.

6.2: Akash Deep to Zak Crawley, Cuts into the batter off the deck, on a good length, around middle and leg. Zak Crawley is undone by the extra bounce as he looks to push it straight, and wears it on the thigh pad.

6.1: Akash Deep to Zak Crawley, The stumps are attacked on a length, Zak punches it straight down the ground and the ball is cut off by mid on.

5.6: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, Full toss and gets away with it, does Prasidh Krishna! On middle and Ben Duckett miscues the heave across to square leg. A maiden over from 'Skiddy'.

5.5: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, Nagging length, on off, Ben punches it to mid off.

5.4: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, BEATEN! Tight line! Just around off and jagging in a shade, on a good length. Ben Duckett plays a loose shot. Tries to punch the ball away from the body, and is beaten on the outside edge.

5.3: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, On middle, on a hard length, Ben Duckett is squared up and bunts it onto the surface.

5.2: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, Misses the yorker by a yard, does Prasidh, on middle, Ben Duckett flicks it to square leg.

5.1: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, Speared fuller and outside off, Ben pushes it with the inner half of the bat, and straight to the bowler.

4.6: Akash Deep to Zak Crawley, Attacks the stumps, on a hard length, 136 kph, Zak clips it to short mid-wicket.

4.5: Akash Deep to Zak Crawley, Full and straight on middle, Crawley forces the drive, straight to mid off.

4.4: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, Nips in from outside off, on a yard behind fuller length. Ben Duckett pushes at the delivery to block and gets an inside edge through square leg for a single.

4.3: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, Slides it down leg, on a length, Ben Duckett misses the flick and Dhruv Jurel flings to his right to gather the ball.

4.2: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, A bit of yes and no, but no harm done! Length, on off, Duckett punches it in front of short cover. Zak runs a few yards, but Duckett sends him back on a sharp and loud 'No' call.

4.1: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, Pitched full and on middle, Ben flicks it past mid-wicket and pushes hard for the second run, challenging Jadeja's arm.

3.6: Prasidh Krishna to Zak Crawley, FOUR! Into the gap! Fired on a length, but well outside off. Zak Crawley climbs on the width and cuts it crisply through point for a cracking boundary. England have started run-a-ball in the chase.

3.5: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, IN THE AIR... Lands just safe! Aggression from Duckett as he mistimes this length ball in the air, off the toe-end of the bat. Luckily for him, the ball lands in the vacant mid off region and is chased by Siraj from the covers. One taken.

3.4: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, On top of off, on a good length, Duckett hangs back and blocks it solidly.

3.3: Prasidh Krishna to Zak Crawley, Pitched fuller outside off, Zak cracks it through covers for a single.

3.2: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, Angled across off, on a length, Ben Duckett stays back and punches it to deep backward point for a single.

3.1: Prasidh Krishna to Zak Crawley, Good-length delivery, outside off, Zak cuts it to deep point for an easy single.

2.6: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, Well bowled! Digs it short and outside off with some extra kick. Ben Duckett sways away from the line to leave.

2.5: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, Attacks the stumps, from around the stumps. Fuller delivery, on middle and leg. Ben Duckett tries to work it across to the leg side, but inside edges onto the pad. The ball lobs in front of him and drops on the pitch. Duckett sniffs a single but Akash Deep sprints towards the ball and he has to retreat.

2.5: Akash Deep to Zak Crawley, No Ball called for overstepping! Length ball, on the stumps, tucked to the leg side, behind square for a single.

2.4: Akash Deep to Zak Crawley, Vicious delivery! Back of a length, kicks off the deck, on off, Zak Crawley pushes the bat in front to deal with the extra bounce, but misses and is hit on the right bicep. 

2.3: Akash Deep to Zak Crawley, FOUR! Cracked away! Short of a length, outside off, Zak Crawley stands tall and cuts it through backward point. Siraj from deep cover sprints to his left and tries to stop the ball by putting his foot in the way, but the ball evades him into the fence.

2.2: Akash Deep to Zak Crawley, Play and a miss! Back of a length, outside off, Zak Crawley plays from the crease, with his feet going nowhere. Tries to slash it hard to the off side, but misses.

2.1: Akash Deep to Zak Crawley, Gentle shape away from the batter, on a good length, outside off, Crawley leaves it alone.

1.6: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, Pushed across the batter, on a back of a length, Ben Duckett pushes at the delivery away from his body. Gets it off the outer half to backward point.

1.5: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, Full and at the stumps, Duckett wrists it off the pads towards Yashasvi Jaiswal at backward square leg, who is not entirely back on the ropes but a few yards in.

1.4: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, A better line, on middle, on a nagging length, Duckett pushes it to mid on from the back foot.

1.3: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, FOUR! And again! Fuller but this curves on the pads, Ben Duckett flicks it uppishly but wide of the man at square leg to his left for four more.

1.2: Prasidh Krishna to Ben Duckett, FOUR! Ben Duckett is on his way! This is too straight from over the wicket, on a short of a length, Duckett hops and glances it off the hips to deep fine leg for a boundary.

1.1: Prasidh Krishna to Zak Crawley, Starts off with a length delivery, around off, Zak cracks the drive to deep cover for a single.

Prasidh Krishna to operate from the other end.

0.6: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, Sliding down leg, on a length, Ben Duckett lets it through.

0.5: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, A loud shout for LBW, but not given! Akash Deep indicates that it is going down leg and India do not take the review. This is bowled from wide of the crease, on a good length, on middle, Ben Duckett gets behind the line of the ball for the block. Ends up playing outside the line and is rapped high on the front pad.

0.4: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, On the fuller side and it is sprayed down leg, left alone by Ben Duckett. Dhruv Jurel gathers to his left.

0.3: Akash Deep to Ben Duckett, Akash switches to around the wicket for the left-hander, on middle, on a good length, Duckett presses back and works it to mid-wicket.

0.2: Akash Deep to Zak Crawley, Zak Crawley and England are away! On a back of a length, outside off, Crawley stands tall and punches it to the left of mid off. Yashasvi Jaiswal at deep cover, gets across to his right and keeps it down to a single.

0.1: Akash Deep to Zak Crawley, This nips away off the deck, on a good length, outside off, Zak Crawley shoulders arms.