India v England 5th Test Day 4: England 339/6 at stumps, need 35 runs to win

Dubai: Joe Root (98*) and Harry Brook (111) put on a strong 195-run partnership for the fourth wicket as England close in on victory in the fifth Test against India at The Oval.

England finished second session at 317/4, needing another 57 runs to win the Test and clinch the series 3-1.

England were 164 for 3 needing another 210 to win the fifth Test at The Oval. Joe Root (23) and and Harry Brook (38) were at the crease. Earlier in the day, Mohammed Siraj picked up the English skipper Ollie Pope, and Prasidh Krishna picked Ben Duckett.

The final day of the fifth Test at The Oval for the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy is delicately poised. England require 324 runs to win, while India need just nine wickets to seal the match and the series.

A victory here would mark a sensational start to Shubman Gill’s captaincy tenure, capping off his first series in charge in style. India enter the final day as slight favourites, buoyed by helpful bowling conditions — overcast skies and a spicy pitch that should aid their pace attack.

The visitors edged ahead late on Day 3 with the key wicket of Zak Crawley, nudging momentum in their favour. But with Ben Duckett still at the crease and the likes of Joe Root and Harry Brook yet to bat, England remain a dangerous chasing side — especially given their history of pulling off big final-day pursuits.

If India can break through a couple more times and dismiss England’s core batting threats, they’ll fancy their chances of closing out the match. It’s perfectly set up for a thrilling finish—a tense, high-stakes conclusion befitting a hard-fought series. The question is: who will hold their nerve when it matters most?