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IND vs ENG 5th Test Day 4 LIVE Cricket Score: Stay updated with all the live coverage from Day 4 of the India vs England Test in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy taking place at Kennington-Oval-London.
Day 4 of the fifth and final Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test at The Oval is poised for a thrilling conclusion, with India firmly in the driver's seat, needing eight more wickets to level the series 2-2. England, meanwhile, face a daunting task, requiring a further 324 runs to achieve a record-breaking chase of 374 on a pitch offering assistance to the bowlers.
The day began with India resuming their second innings at 75/2, holding a 52-run lead. The morning session saw an extraordinary display from nightwatchman Akash Deep, who played a career-best knock of 66 runs off 94 balls. He forged a crucial 107-run partnership with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who continued his stellar form with a magnificent 118 – his second century of the series. Deep's innings was particularly noteworthy as he became the first Indian nightwatchman since Amit Mishra in 2011 to score a Test fifty in England.
Despite losing Deep just before lunch, India continued to pile on the runs throughout the day. Ravindra Jadeja contributed a valuable 53, and Washington Sundar provided late fireworks with a rapid 53 off just 46 balls, including four towering sixes, boosting India's total to 396. England's bowling attack, hampered by the absence of Chris Woakes and several dropped catches, struggled to contain the flow of runs. Josh Tongue was the pick of the bowlers for England, claiming five wickets in the second innings.
Set an imposing target of 374, England started their chase cautiously. However, India delivered a crucial blow on the very last ball of Day 3 when Mohammed Siraj rattled Zak Crawley's stumps with a searing yorker. England finished the day at 50/1, with Ben Duckett unbeaten on 34.
With the pitch showing variable bounce and overcast conditions expected, India's pacers, led by Siraj, will be looking to exploit the conditions. While England's "Bazball" approach has seen them chase down big totals before, the highest successful chase at The Oval remains 263, achieved way back in 1902. India will be confident of their chances to clinch a memorable victory and draw a captivating series. All eyes will be on Joe Root and Harry Brook to see if England can defy history on what promises to be an enthralling final day.
Siraj is set to bowl what is probably the last over before tea. He delivers a short ball to Root, which Dharmasena decides not to call. Shubman Gill reviews the decision with noticeable reluctance, and as expected, the impact is shown to be outside off. Root responds by nudging two runs into the leg-side. Can England’s veteran player guide his team to victory? Four runs! A classic shot from Joe Root, executed with precision as he places the ball perfectly between slip and gully. Another four! A straight drive that was hit a bit high but timed impeccably. Root is now on 98 with just one ball remaining before the tea break... he defends it back to mid-on. We have now reached tea.
Akash Deep resumes his bowling attack. Four runs! He delivers a full toss, but it lacks speed, allowing Brook to smash it through mid-off. The absence of pace from Akash was evident. Another four! This time, he pitches it slightly shorter, and Brook capitalizes by pulling it through the leg side. This boundary also marks the 300-run milestone for England. And he's out! Brook attempts to step down the wicket but loses grip on his bat. It soars into the air, and a weary Siraj takes the catch. A very slim chance for India.
Prasidh has returned. He appears to be the most probable candidate to replace Brook today. A short and wide delivery sees Brook drive it to mid-off for a single. Prasidh strikes Root on the pad, but Root's pad is outside the line. Subsequently, Root plays a shot off the back foot, sending the ball to deep cover for another single.
Siraj is back with the field spread out. Brook strides down the wicket and taps one into the leg-side for a single. He pins Root on the pad, but it’s clearly too high. Root flicks one off his hip to secure another half-century from 81 balls. Four runs! A poor delivery from Siraj, as his attempted bouncer goes down the leg-side, and Brook sends it away. It appeared to be a weary effort; who can blame him? Brook swings across the line for a single to cow corner.
Siraj delivers another sharp delivery, finding a gap between Root's bat and pad. He is well outside his crease. The movement now drifts down the leg side, Jurel fumbles, allowing the batters to sneak a bye. Brook taps the ball to cow corner, aiming for two but ultimately settles for one. Siraj's next delivery is again too straight, enabling Root to tuck it to fine leg for another single. Brook then rolls his wrists on a pull shot, and the single brings England to a total of 200.
Akash Deep is set to bowl the last over of the session. Root nudges one off his thigh-pad for a single. Brook executes a well-timed straight drive, which strikes Akash Deep on the shin, enabling the batters to secure another single. With just two balls remaining in the session, Root plays a cover drive, but it goes directly to the fielder at cover. Root allows the final ball of the session to pass by, signaling the end of the session.
Six! Brook attempts a cheeky shot and sends the ball directly to Siraj at the boundary. Siraj manages to catch it, but unfortunately steps on the boundary line, awarding Brook six runs for a rather poor shot. Four! Brook mistimes his shot once more, but with the cover fielder up, he secures four runs! He then drives the ball to the left of cover, but Jaiswal makes a diving effort to limit it to two runs. Another four! Things are heating up now, as Brook executes an uppercut over the slip fielder.
Four runs! Root secures his first boundary with a cover drive against Siraj. Although not perfectly timed, it is sufficient to reach the boundary. He follows this with a back-foot punch for a single. He gets hit on the pad, and the umpire raises his finger! Pope is out, undone by the inswinger. He reviews the decision, but with three reds, he is dismissed.
Siraj continues his impressive performance. He strikes the edge once more! Siraj has maintained an excellent rhythm this morning. And once again! Siraj and Jadeja believe they detected an edge, but Gill remains unfazed, so no review is called for. Another maiden over, India has been exceptional this morning.
The first change of the day sees Prasidh replacing Akash Deep. The tall bowler generates extra bounce, and once more, Duckett is left beaten! He's out! Prasidh delivers a fuller ball, Duckett attempts a drive, but it edges through, and India is duly rewarded for having unsettled him throughout the morning.
Four! A solid response from Duckett, as Siraj delivers a slightly overpitched ball, which the batter drives through cover. Duckett then adds a single through point. Another four! Siraj bowls too straight, allowing Pope to flick it fine for additional runs. More runs follow as Pope flicks it off his pads for two more through mid-wicket.
Siraj bowls over the wicket to Duckett, and he successfully beats a hesitant prod from Duckett on two occasions! Both bowlers are probing effectively this morning. Another peach from Siraj, completely catching Duckett off guard! It's been a brilliant over so far, compelling Duckett to play at the ball. Siraj delivers a short and wide ball, and Duckett attempts to relieve the pressure with a cut shot but fails to connect. He beats the bat once more! What an impressive over from Siraj, having beaten the bat five times throughout the over!
Ben Duckett continues his innings from the opposite end, facing Akash Deep. The ball flies off the edge past gully, marking England's first run of the day. Pope then scores his first run with a single into the leg-side. Duckett follows up with another single into the leg-side.
Although Saturday was free of rain, the weather on Sunday (Day 4) is anticipated to be cloudy with a chance of light rain during the second and third sessions (2 PM to 5 PM local time). The temperature is predicted to stay consistent at 20-21°C for the entire day.
Greetings and welcome to our live blog covering the fourth day of the fifth Test match between India and England. Currently, India is favored to secure a victory in this match; however, England has a tendency to pursue substantial scores during their Bazzball era, making it likely to be an exciting day. Unless rain intervenes, this is expected to be the concluding day of the Test match.