For over three hours on the fifth day of the final Test at the Oval yesterday it seemed like India could salvage a draw from an improbable situation. Both KL Rahul and Rishab Pant had prolonged the Test late into the final session by scoring masterful centuries. However, as has often been the case throughout the series, England won the decisive moment and clinched the final Test by 118 runs to claim the Pataudi Trophy series 4-1.

Resuming on 58-3, Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane continued to repel James Anderson and Stuart Broad in the first hour with some gritty batting. The pitch had lost its zing, but Rahane and Rahul ensured they stroked the loose balls to the boundary. Both drove in imperious fashion and the ease at which the pair batted prompted Joe Root to turn to Moeen Ali. The move would prove to be an immediate success as Rahane top-edged a sweep to be caught at mid-wicket for 37. Ben Stokes then got rid of Hanuma Vihari (0).