Harry Brook’s blistering hundred and Joe Root’s masterclass in composure put England on the brink of completing one of their greatest run chases, as the hosts reached 317 for 4 by tea on day four of the fifth and final Test against India at the Oval on 3 August.
Set 374 for victory, England needed just 57 more runs to clinch the series 3–1 and cap off a remarkable comeback after trailing 1–0. Their pursuit, which would become the highest successful chase ever at the Oval, was powered by a dazzling 195-run partnership between Yorkshiremen Brook and Root.
Brook smashed 111 off 114 balls in a counter-attacking display that flipped the script after England had stumbled to 106 for 3 following the dismissal of stand-in captain Ollie Pope. The 25-year-old’s audacious strokeplay including 12 fours and two sixes epitomised England’s fearless ‘Bazball’ ethos.
A defining moment came when Brook launched Akash Deep over cover for six, despite overcast conditions aiding the Indian seamers. He enjoyed a stroke of fortune on 71 when a top-edged pull off Prasidh Krishna was parried over the rope by Mohammed Siraj. That moment seemed to sap India’s fight as fielding errors mounted and bowlers looked short of answers.
Brook brought up his third Test century in just 91 balls but fell shortly after losing grip of his bat mid-swing as he holed out to Siraj at mid-off.
Root’s knock saw him register his 39th Test hundred later in the day, taking him past Kumar Sangakkara (38) into fourth on the all-time century list. Only Sachin Tendulkar (51), Jacques Kallis (45), and Ricky Ponting (41) now stand ahead of him.
The former England captain also became the first player to surpass 6,000 runs in World Test Championship history and moved closer to overtaking Tendulkar’s all-time Test run tally of 15,921. Root already has over 13,500 runs and sits second on the all-time list.
India’s decision-making came under scrutiny as Shubman Gill delayed bringing on spin until the 43rd over by which point Brook and Root were well-set. Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja failed to stem the flow as England’s scoring rate surged.
Earlier in the day, England resumed on 50 for 1. Ben Duckett made 54 before edging Krishna to KL Rahul at slip, while Pope was trapped lbw by Siraj for 27. Zak Crawley had fallen the previous evening, bowled by Siraj with the last delivery of day three.
Under the continued influence of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum despite Stokes missing the game through injury England are within touching distance of a second record chase this summer, having already hunted down 371 at Headingley in June.