England need 35 on final day to win stunning fifth Test and series with India requiring four wickets for 2-2 draw

England’s spellbinding series against India will get the gripping finish it so richly deserves after bad light and rain extended the fifth Test at The Kia Oval into a final day.

England are 339-6 and need a further 35 runs to pull off their second-highest run chase of 374 and secure a 3-1 series win after six weeks of high drama, with India requiring four wickets for a 2-2 draw.

There remains a distinct possibility Chris Woakes – who suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder fielding on day one that may rule him out of The Ashes – is required to bat, with the stricken all-rounder seen in his whites while wearing a sling late on the fourth day.

The hosts had seemed all but certain to win the game after Harry Brook (111 off 98 balls) had punished a costly fielding error from Mohammed Siraj to score a sizzling 10th Test century – his first in the fourth innings of a Test – and share a 195-run, fourth-wicket stand with Joe Root (105) from 106-3.

Brook skied Prasidh Krishna to deep fine leg on 19 where Siraj, who had just returned to the field, trod on the boundary cushion after taking the catch and soon covered his face in embarrassment.

It was a cruel moment for Siraj, whose skilful and snarling bowling spells have helped keep India in the series over the last few weeks.

Siraj had dismissed Zak Crawley from the final ball on day three to leave England 50-1 and then pinned stand-in skipper Ollie Pope (22) lbw the following morning after Ben Duckett (54) had snicked Krishna into the slip cordon.

Brook and Root’s partnership then took England to within 73 runs of victory – before a dramatic twist.

Brook lost his bat as he sliced Akash Deep to mid-off while when Krishna cleaned up a charging Jacob Bethell (5) after tea and then had Root caught behind with 37 runs required, India, who had appeared to run out of energy and ideas earlier on, were suddenly alive.

Siraj and Krishna bowled challenging deliveries to Surrey duo Jamie Smith (2no) and Jamie Overton (0) before bad light, initially, and then a heavy downpour ensured that play would not be able to resume before the 6.42pm cut-off, setting up an absorbing Monday finale.

More to follow.