Even the rain gods seemed eager to play their part in the unfolding drama of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. The Oval Test—the series decider—fittingly extended into a fifth day after rain and bad light brought an early end to play on Day 4, Sunday, 3 August. England need just 35 runs to win, while India require three (or possibly four) wickets. After everything we’ve witnessed over the past two months in Old Blighty, who can rule out the possibility of a tie?

Play was officially abandoned at 10:30 pm IST—half an hour before the scheduled close—following an hour’s delay due to rain. Momentum had shifted in India’s favour, and England were looking increasingly uneasy after losing centurion Joe Root towards the end of the day’s play.

The first four Tests in this fiercely contested series between two flawed sides all went into a fifth day, but it seemed, for a while, that the Oval finale might conclude on the penultimate day. In the end, it did not.

Both sets of players—and perhaps the fans—will now return for what might be just an hour or two of cricket on Monday. When England resumed on 50 for 1, still needing 324 runs to win on Sunday morning, India appeared to have the upper hand. They struck early, removing overnight opener Zak Crawley and stand-in captain Ollie Pope.

Then came a pivotal moment—a dropped catch, or rather, a catch that turned into a let-off. Mohammed Siraj took a well-judged catch at deep fine leg off a mistimed pull from Harry Brook, only to step on the boundary rope, turning a potential wicket into six runs. Brook was on 19 at the time. The World No. 1 Test batter went on to punish India with a blistering 111 off just 90 balls—his maiden fourth-innings century in Test cricket.

Brook and Joe Root broke India’s resolve in the second session, amassing 153 runs at a rate of 5.43 per over. By Tea, England seemed to be cruising, needing just 57 more runs with six wickets still in hand.

– Ends

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