Brook-Root tons, Krishna burst set up tense finale

For the fifth time in five Tests, this England-India series will go down to the final day. And just like the others, it offers no easy answers. At The Oval, England need a further 35 runs, India another four wickets, after a dramatic fourth day that met an anticlimactic, premature end due to bad light and rain.

England appeared firmly in control at Tea, riding on Harry Brook's blistering 91-ball century and Joe Root's unbeaten 98, which he soon converted into his 39th Test hundred. Their 195-run stand had wiped out most of the 374-run target and left India searching for answers on a pitch that still offered some assistance to the bowlers. But the mood shifted quickly after the break and a match that looked headed to a routine finish sprang to life.

Seventeen false shots were induced in the space of seven overs after Tea as India's fast bowlers summoned a final burst from their tired legs. And suddenly, Prasidh Krishna had two wickets in two overs and England were under pressure, with the ball thudding into the pads of Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton far more often than it met their bats.

The first breakthrough of the evening came when Jacob Bethell, looking to break free after scoring 5 off 30 balls, charged at Krishna and inside-edged onto his stumps. In Krishna's next over, Root, having just reached his milestone, attempted a late dab to third man and edged behind, giving India a window of opportunity.

Brook's hundred earlier in the day had tilted the game England's way. It was his 10th Test hundred and the fastest fourth-innings century ever scored against India. That it came in a session that had hitherto been the most bowler-friendly passage of the match told a story. His knock, featuring 14 fours and two sixes, could have ended on 19 when he mistimed a short ball from Krishna to fine leg. Siraj, who had just returned to the field after an inspired eight-over spell, completed the catch but stepped over the boundary rope.

Undeterred by the reprieve, Brook went after Krishna again in the same over, swinging through the line and collecting two more boundaries. Unlike at Lord's, where he lost his stumps attempting a sweep against a fast bowler, Brook showed better judgement here. Once Shubman Gill spread the field, he was content to tone things down while still scoring at over a run a ball.

His stand with Root flattened India in a 153-run afternoon session until an unforced error handed them a wicket. Brook got out on 111 when he charged down the track against Akash Deep and sliced the ball to Siraj, who held on comfortably this time. But by then, the damage had been done and India were left staring at yet another fourth-innings defeat defending a 370-plus total against England. They have lost two such matches in the last three years: Edgbaston 2022 and Headingley 2025.

With the ball in hand though, Siraj hardly put a foot wrong, running in all day without the slightest drop in intensity. He began the day by troubling Ben Duckett from over the wicket, repeatedly beating the outside edge, before the opener finally chased a full delivery from Krishna and edged it to KL Rahul at slip.

Ollie Pope, the fidgety starter that he is, looked in good touch during a short stay, striking boundaries on either side of the ground including a pristine on-drive. But his innings ended with one of the more unplayable deliveries Siraj has bowled this series: a wobble-seam ball that landed on the divots and jagged back viciously to trap him in front. That dismissal gave Siraj his 20th wicket of the series, confirming his status as the leading wicket-taker.

Akash struggled to make an impact with the old ball, which forced India to turn to spin from both ends in the afternoon. But his dismissal of Brook gave them an unlikely way back into the contest. Another opportunity followed when Jacob Bethell miscued a pull shot, but he survived as Akash's spikes got stuck in the pitch, preventing what could have been a straightforward return catch.

England's lower order now holds the key. Chris Woakes, who dislocated his shoulder earlier in the Test, was seen in his whites but with his arm in a sling and it remains to be seen if he will be needed on the final day, which promises to be another blockbuster.

Brief Scores: India 224 & 396 lead England 247 & 339/6 (Brook 111, Root 105, Duckett 54; Krishna 3-109, Siraj 2-95) by 34 runs.