On Sunday, August 3, the fourth day of the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy delivered pulsating action from start to finish at The Oval in London. In pursuit of the 374-run target,
England batters Joe Root and Harry Brook scored hundreds to put their team in a very strong position before India took late wickets to make a big comeback prior to bad light and rain ending the fourth day’s play quite early.
Earlier, with the overnight score 50/1, England took their second innings further with Ben Duckett and stand-in captain Ollie Pope at the crease at the start of the first session on day four. Prasidh Krishna struck first for India on day four, taking Ben Duckett’s wicket, who got out after a well-made 54(83) runs. After a few overs, Mohammed Siraj ended Pope’s innings on 27(54) runs as England were reduced to 106/3. After that, Harry Brook and Joe Root took charge of their team’s second innings in pursuit of the 374-run target.
They changed the complexion of the game completely in favour of England with their incredible partnership in tough batting conditions at The Oval in London. The duo added 195 runs for the fourth wicket with Harry Brook completing his 10th Test hundred in just 92 balls, taking the Indian attack to the cleaners after a shaky start, which saw him getting dropped by Mohammed Siraj, while Joe Root accumulated the runs at his meticulous pace at the other end.
When England were in dominant position at 301/3, needing just 73 runs to win, Harry Brook got out against the run of play towards the end of the second session on day four on the bowling of Akash Deep. After scoring 111 runs off 98 balls, an innings which had 14 fours and two sixes, Harry Brook walked back to the pavilion, giving an opening to India.
Joe Root kept the scoring intent going at his end, completing his 39th Test hundred before he saw Jacob Bethell getting castled on a delivery from Prasidh Krishna in an attempt to play an attacking shot, losing his wicket on 5 off 31 in the third session on day four. With the Indian bowlers managing to curb the scoring rate, Prasidh Krishna ultimately took the key wicket of Joe Root, dismissing him on 105 off 152 with 12 fours, to bring his team right back in the contest, reducing England to 337/6.
As the run dried up and the anticipation built up in the crowd at The Oval in London, the umpires had to call off play early on fourth day due to bad light and a subsequent heavy shower, leaving England 339/6 with Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton new to the crease, still needing a further 35 runs to win.
