Alastair Cook scored 147 in his last Test innings. (Source: AP)
Alastair Cook scored a farewell century just before lunch while skipper Joe Root slammed his 14th Test ton as England put themselves in command on Day 4 of the fifth and final Test. After resuming at 114/2 the duo forged an emphatic 200-run stand to take the game away from India. England finally declared their innings on 423/8, lead by 463 and setting a target for 464 for India to win the match. In reply, India was rattled early on by Anderson as Broad and Dhawan, Pujara and Kohli departed one after the other leaving India tottering at 2/3. However, KL Rahul and Rahane ensure that India does not suffer any more hiccups as India ended the day on 58/3, needing 406 runs to win.
Alastair Cook played his last Test innings. (Source: Reuters)
Stumps on Day 4! IND- 58/3, still need 406 runs. KL Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane take India through to stumps on Day 4 but the day belonged to Alastair Cook who receives a standing ovation as he leaves the field. A special day of Test cricket at The Oval comes to an end. India recover from 2/3 to 58/3 at stumps on day four after Alastair Cook's 147 and Joe Root's 125 helped the hosts set India a target of 464 to win. Can India survive on Day 5? Join us for all the live action tomorrow!
India consolidates with KL Rahul (31) and Ajinkya Rahane (9). Few more overs left for the day for the Indians to survive. Not that the pitch is doing much but a new ball on a flat track is enough for the class of Anderson and Broad. Sam Curran introduced into the attack. IND- 41/3, need 423 runs to win
DISASTER FOR INDIA! Virat Kohli is out for a duck. This time it is Stuart Broad. Outswinger pitched outside the off stump and Kohli feels for it and only gets an edge. It's all happening here at the Oval. Will India survive the day? IND- 2/3, still need 463 to win
LBW! Anderson strikes again in the same over. This time it is Cheteshwar Pujara who is gone for a duck. He's just two wickets away from passing Glenn McGrath's 563 Test wickets - will he do it tonight? India in deep trouble at 1/2. Still, need 463 to win
LBW! Shikhar Dhawan's last innings on the tour is short lived as he out for just 1. Anderson bowls from round the wicket and the ball jags in and wraps him on the pads. Dhawan wants to go for a review but decided against it. An early blow for India as they lose their first wicket. This is not the start they would have been hoping for. IND- 1/1, need 463 to win
LBW! Shikhar Dhawan's last innings on the tour is short lived as he out for just 1. Anderson bowls from round the wicket and the ball jags in and wraps him on the pads. Dhawan wants to go for a review but decided against it. An early blow for India as they lose their first wicket. This is not the start they would have been hoping for. IND- 1/1, need 463 to win
OUT! Sam Curran goes for 21 and with that England have declared on 423/8, lead by 463. So the target for India- 464 to win the match. A tricky period of play coming up for India as they have to survive 18 overs. Can they? KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan come out in the middle for one last time in the series. But can a beleaguered Indian team bat for more than a day... Let's find out!
OUT! Ben Stokes departs for 37. Jadeja picks up his third wicket of the innings. Most importantly England still hasn't declared. How much are they looking at is anyone's guess! Meanwhile, for the first time 400 comes up in the series from either of the two teams. ENG- 400/7, lead by 440 runs.
England resume with Stokes and Curran after Tea. The lead is already past 400. Now the question remains when will the hosts declare? The pitch is still good for strokeplay but not for too much of attacking shots. ENG- 364/6, lead by 404 runs.
At Tea, England 364/6, lead by 404 runs. Another dramatic session where Joe Root reached his century but fell thereafter. Alastair Cook also departed after scoring 147. However, two more wickets fell as England continued in their quest for quick runs. Let's see what is in store for us.
Two wickets in quick succession for India. First to go is Jonny Bairstow as he castled by Shami for 18. In the following over, Jos Buttler is gone for a duck Jadeja picks up the wicket. The idea of attacking the bowlers is not quite working out for the hosts. When will they declare? 400? ENG- 356/6, lead by 396
OUT! Alastair Cook is caught behind for 147. A standing ovation for the southpaw as he makes the long walk back for the final time. Indian players applaud him and shake his hands. The Oval continues to resound with claps all around. Truly a great moment in the sport of cricket. 161 caps, 12,472 runs (5th highest in history), 33 centuries, the highest score of 294 and thus comes an end to Cook's career. Hanuma Vihari has two in two. But he does not get a hattrick and end with a double wicket maiden
Gone! Joe Root is out for 125 and India finally have the breakthrough. Guess who picked up the wicket? Debutant Hanuma Vihari as Joe Root goes for the big hit and finds the fielder in the deep. ENG- 321/3, lead by 361 runs
England take their lead past 350 as Cook edges towards 150. Kohli seems bereft of ideas on how to break this massive partnership. He introduces Hanuma Vihari in the attack but to no avail. The pitch is also not offering any assistance. ENG- 310/2
Two fours in an over for Cook off Jadeja and England continue to pile on the misery for India. The lead is now 329 and the partnership has crossed 200. This is England's first 200 partnership in 2nd innings of a home Test since 1998, when Atherton and Stewart added 226 for 3rd wicket at Old Trafford v South Africa. The biggest question for now- when will the hosts declare their innings?
100 for England captain Joe Root! 14th in Test match cricket. Only the second three-figure score for Root in the second innings after 180 against Australia at Lord's in 2013. Remember Joe Root was dropped by Rahane at first slip on 46. Once again he was dropped by Pujara at first slip on 94. ENG- 266/2, 80 ovs
England resume after lunch with Cook and Root. But disaster for India as Cheteshwar Pujara drops a straightforward chance at first slip of Joe Root. Mohammed Shami is distraught. Such chances are rare to come by and India have only themselves to blame. England continue to motor along.
England move ahead by 283 runs at Lunch on Day 4 after Alastair Cook brings up a dream final century.
Here is something to read while you wait for the match to resume:
Alastair Cook breaks records in his dream farewell Test
Alastair Cook enters record books with farewell Test century
ALASTAIR COOK SCORES HIS 33RD TEST CENTURY IN HIS FINAL INNINGS! What a way to sign off! He scored a century in his first match. He scored a century in his last. The crowd are on their feet and he receives a standing ovation. Did he see that coming?
Alastair Cook is playing his final innings. But he makes sure that he does not depart without breaking some records. He surpasses Kumar Sangakkara to become the fifth-highest run-scorer, and the highest scoring left-handed batsman in Test cricket history.
Joe Root brings up his half-century after reaching 100-run partnership with Alastair Cook. This comes after a close call for Root, as the ball flies towards Rahane at slip, who puts his hands to it but doesn't hold onto it. With this, England cross the 200-run mark.
England have done rather well in the first session of the day, with Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah unable to find a breakthrough. Cook and Root look comfortable in the middle.
Cook has scored 1716 runs through mid-wicket against pace in his career. Time for some stats:
- 38 batsmen scored 50+ in each innings of their first Test
- 17 players scored 50+ in each innings of their last Test
- Only two players did it on both instances - Bruce Mitchell and today it is Alastair Cook
A good start for England on Day 4 as Alastair Cook brings up his 58th half-century with a boundary. He becomes only the second to score fifties in both innings of his first and final Tests.
Alastair Cook's final walk to the middle! The fourth day of the fifth Test is underway.
Less than half-an-hour to go for the match fourth day of the fifth Test to kickstart at the Oval in London.
A bundle of nerves ahead of his Test debut, Hanuma Vihari said a phone call to Rahul Dravid put his mind at ease and helped him get the maiden fifty that rescued India from a difficult situation against England. Vihari scored 56 and put on a vital 77-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja (86 not out) to help India post 292 in their first innings Sunday.
Speaking to Rahul Dravid eased my nerves, says Hanuma Vihari
India’s Ravindra Jadeja is an exceptional cricketer and England are happy that he featured only in the fifth and final Test, said the home team’s assistant coach Paul Farbrace. Coming into bat at number 8, Jadeja scored his ninth Test half-century to rescue India from 160-6 to 292 in the first innings.
READ FULL INTERVIEW
Hanuma Vihari had quit Hyderabad after six years of first-class cricket and was left disillusioned with the whole experience. Personal tragedies helped forge Hanuma Vihari’s inner steel. Here is some background on the debutant.
The man who loves his horses kept the wolf away from the Indian door. Had Ravindra Jadeja fallen early, had he not played his best Test knock, India would have been already buried in the Test. With India set to bat last, England, who are already 154 runs ahead with eight wickets intact, hold all the cards but Jadeja and the debutant Hanuma Vihari at least ensured the game wasn’t done and dusted already. Alastair Cook, though, seems determined to script a fairytale farewell.
READ DAY 3 FULL REPORT
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the fourth day of the fifth and final Test between India and England. England reached 114-2 at stumps on Sunday on day three at the Oval for a 154-run lead. All eyes will be on Alastair Cook as he plays his farewell innings in Test cricket.