Akash Deep gave India a glimmer of hope by sending the dangerous Harry Brook packing on the stroke of Tea on Day 4 of the fifth and final Test match in the Anderson-Tendulkar
Trophy 2025 at The Oval in London. However, England are the favourites after the counter-attacking partnership between Brook and Joe Root.
Brook got to his century off just 91 balls, which is the third quickest by an England batter against India in Tests, behind Jamie Smith (80 balls) and Ben Duckett (88 balls). However, a couple of overs later, he became Deep's first victim of the fourth innings.
Brook stepped out to a ball that was a fraction short on off-stump and he tried to give himself some room. His intention was to slap the ball over the covers but he only managed to slice it. His bat flew towards the leg-side, while the ball ballooned up towards the off-side. Mohammed Siraj, who had dropped Brook when he was batting on 19, made no mistake this time around as he moved to his left at mid-off and completed the catch easily.
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Brook's innings came to an end after he had smashed 111 off 98 deliveries, belting 14 fours and two sixes. He added 195 runs with Joe Root, taking the Indian bowlers to the cleaners with some aggressive batting, straight out of the 'Bazball' manual.
England on the brink at Tea
At Tea on Day 4, England romped to 317/4 in 66 overs, scoring at a run rate of 4.80. Root is unbeaten on 98 and will look to bring up his 39th Test century in the final session. The Three Lions need just 57 more runs to win the Test match and bag the series.
Root has Jacob Bethell for company, who has looked fidgety in his 11-ball stay at the crease. With Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, and Jamie Overton still to come, England would be confident about emerging victorious in the final session on the penultimate day of the Test match.
