- By Namrata Vijay
- Sun, 03 Aug 2025 11:32 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
IND vs ENG 5th Test: With the amount of runs scored at the Oval in the ongoing Test match, both the teams had posted their 14th target of more than 300 runs, which was the most in the longest format and had also leveled the record of the 1928-29 Ashes series and had broken the record of the 1975-76 series between Australia and West Indies. The host brought up their 300 during the fourth innings after Harry Brook had smashed a boundary in Akash Deep's over and they were on the verge of chasing the target.
Harry Brook and Joe Root stitched a brilliant partnership of 195 runs off 211 balls and took the Indian bowlers to the cleaners, and were 317/4 till tea, and they needed 67 runs to win the series against the visitors.
India and England had posted more than 300 runs during all four innings during the series opener at Headingley, during three innings of the second Test match, and in the two innings of the third Test match at Lord's, and then in the fifth match.
Also READ: IND vs ENG 5th Test: Harry Brook, Joe Root's Hundreds Guide England To 339/6 At Stumps On Day 4
The 1928/29 Ashes series, which England had won by 4-1 in Australia, was one of their best batting performances in the history of this series. Wolly Hammond had smashed 901 runs at a staggering average of 113.2. Jack White was the highest wicket-getter of that series.
What happened on Day 4 of the Oval Test?
Harry Brook had smashed his second hundred of the ongoing series, displaying his batting prowess under pressure situations.
Brook took advantage of a lifeline after he had scored 19 runs and Mohammed Siraj had touched the boundary ropes with his leg as he had lost balance of his body.
The Indian fast bowlers didn't get much assistance from the surface as the ball became soft, and the spinners Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja were also seen struggling.
The new ball would only have been available after 14 overs, and the game could have gotten by then if the Ollie Pope-led side continued batting the way they did while chasing the target.