As the fifth and final Test between England and India heads into a thrilling conclusion on Monday morning, former England captain Michael Vaughan summed up the mood with a bold prediction.Bad light and rain forced an early close to play on Day 4 at The Oval, with England sitting at 339/6 in pursuit of a daunting 374-run target. They need just 35 more runs to seal the series 3-1, but with only a handful of wickets left and Chris Woakes nursing a shoulder injury, the final day could go either way.“It’s the last day of an incredible series,” Vaughan posted on X. “Two closely matched teams with supremely talented players… Harry Brook’s innings yesterday is a reminder of how good the modern Test game has become.”His bold prediction however, went in favour of the hosts, as he wrote, “I think England will win but it will probably be dramatic.”
Brook scored a counterattacking 111, his 10th Test hundred in just 30 matches — the fastest to that mark in 70 years. He and Joe Root (105) stitched together a 195-run stand that looked set to seal the game and series. But in a dramatic turn, India struck back late in the day to leave the door open.
Michael Vaughan on X (Screengrab)
Brook gifted his wicket away with a rash shot, Bethell followed with a loose swipe that shattered his stumps, and Root fell to a Prasidh Krishna wicket – all in a chaotic final hour that turned the mood at The Oval.With Woakes unlikely to bat properly, England may effectively have only three wickets left. Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton are at the crease, and though the hosts still look favourites, India’s fightback has kept the tension alive.Earlier on the penultimate day, Siraj and Prasidh kept things tight as India dominated the morning session. But it was Root and Brook’s controlled aggression in the afternoon that turned the tide before India’s late surge restored balance.
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As Vaughan noted, the series has lived up to its billing. Now, it’s all set for one final act, with everything to play for.
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