5th Test: England on course for record breaking chase at The Oval

Harry Brook’s counter attacking hundred and Joe Root's sublime unbeaten 98 put England on course for a series winning record 374-run chase against India at tea on day four of the final Test at The Oval in London on Sunday.

An epic 195-run stand off 211 balls between Brook and Root took the wind out India’s sails as England coasted to 317 for four at tea, needing another 57 runs for the series sealing victory.

It was the second hundred of the series for Brook (111 off 98), who displayed special ball striking abilities under extreme pressure. He made most of a life given on on 19 when Mohammed Siraj stumbled to the boundary ropes after taking his catch off Prasidh Krishna.

The three Indian pacers could not much out of the pitch with a softer ball and the two spinners Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja too proved ineffective although to be fair to them they weren't given lengthy spells. The new ball is still 14 overs away and the game would be as good as over by then if England continue marching towards their goal.

The short ball tactic was also employed but the carry off the old ball was comfortably negotiated by Brook and Root.

The shoulders in the field were drooping and it was most visible when Brook creamed Akash Deep through the cover for a boundary. However, two balls later Brook stepped out to smash the bowler over cover but ended up losing his bat and was caught by Siraj at mid-off.

While Brook was all brute force, Root collected his runs in his typical effortless manner. He got to 98 with back-to-back fours off Siraj including a majestic straight.

In the morning session, Siraj bowled another lion hearted spell of eight overs as India took two timely wickets to leave England on 164 for three at lunch on day four of the final Test here on Sunday.

Having dismissed Zak Crawley on the last ball of the day three, Siraj started the proceedings alongside Akash Deep. Like the first innings, Siraj put his hand up and produced a fiery spell where he troubled Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope.

However, it was Prasidh Krishna who provided the opening breakthrough of the day when he drew Duckett into the drive and had him caught at second slip on what was his fourth ball of the morning.

Siraj too was rewarded for his relentless approach when he trapped Pope in front for the second time in the game with a sharp nip backer off a wobbled seam. Pope had just found his groove, having collected three fours off Prasidh before being dismissed in the following over.

Root looked solid in the middle and executed two regal cover drives off Siraj.

Harry Brook was his usual attacking self and was handed a reprieve when Siraj caught him at fine leg off Prasidh but ended up stepping on the ropes to concede six runs.

Before that, Brook stepped out to Akash Deep and dispatched him for a six over cover.

Like Siraj, Prasidh also bowled eight overs on the trot, giving his all on potentially the final day of a grueling five match series.

England resumed the day at 50 for one, needing another 324 runs for an improbable win.

Prior to this game, the highest chase at this ground was 263 achieved by England back in 1902.