LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP)—Harry Brook and Joe Root both hit hundreds before a late flurry of wickets and an Oval downpour left England’s series finale against India on a knife edge with one day to go.

England, seeking to wrap up a 3-1 win, were 339-6 when play was abandoned late on Sunday’s fourth day of the fifth and final Test, needing a further 35 runs to reach a target of 374.

India, who had appeared down and out at one stage, require four wickets to end the thrilling series level at 2-2.

England were faltering at 106-3 following the loss of stand-in captain Ollie Pope but the Yorkshire pair of Brook (111) and Root (105) turned the tide with a fourth-wicket stand of 195.

However, Brook’s exit sparked a mini-collapse, with the home side losing three wickets for 36 runs, with Root also dismissed.

And when bad light halted play England were wobbling, with Jamie Smith two not out and Jamie Overton yet to get off the mark.

A huge downpour then effectively prevented any hope of a resumption.

“It was always going to happen like this, wasn’t it?,” said Root of the “amazing spectacle” in prospect on Monday.

“If you look at the first four games, it’s just been that kind of series. It’s been amazing to play in and quite fitting, almost, that we’re going to get that kind of finish tomorrow.”

England have been without Chris Woakes for most of the match after the paceman suffered a shoulder injury diving in the field on the first day but Root confirmed he would bat if required.

Sunday’s stoppage halted India’s momentum but the tourists’ bowling coach, Morne Morkel, said the decision was out of their control.

“Again, tomorrow, we can just focus on doing a good warm-up and get the boys ready to hopefully get the ball in the right area and create a little bit of excitement again,” he said.

The most any side have made in the fourth innings to win a Test at the Oval is England’s 263 in a one-wicket victory over Australia in 1902.

Aggressive batting has been a cornerstone of England’s approach to Test cricket since captain Ben Stokes, ruled out of this match with a shoulder injury, and coach Brendon McCullum joined forces in 2022.

England started this series with the 10th highest successful run chase in Test history after they knocked off a target of 371 for a five-wicket win over India in the opener at Headingley.