Ultimate cliffhanger England need 35 runs with everything still on the line

First came bad light, then a burst of rain, and with it the penultimate day of this epic Test series ended with the ultimate cliffhanger overnight.

- Ali Martin

England had seemingly been cruising to their target of 374 and a 3-1 series victory, driven by centuries from Harry Brook and Joe Root. But India roared back after tea to leave the hosts six wickets down, still 35 runs short, when the players and umpires walked off to a chorus of jeers.

So despite looking like a memorable fourth day would bring finality to the contest, the deciding fifth Test now heads into a fifth day with everything still on the line. England will resume in the morning hoping that Jamie Smith, last of the top seven, guides them home after a night's rest and Chris Woakes, his dislocated left shoulder still in a sling, is not required to bat.

India can still level the series at 2-2 - a share of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy - and, having floundered slightly during a 195-run fifth-wicket stand between Brook and Root, they had perhaps cause to feel most aggrieved when proceedings were paused at 5.30pm. The force was very much with the tourists at this stage; England were scrapping for their lives.

Brook's thrilling 10th Test century had been terminated on 111 from 98 balls before tea - bat flying out of his hand when top-edging Akash Deep into the ring - while Jacob Bethell lost his middle stump for five trying to break free from the shackles. But it was Root's removal for 105 to an edge off Prasidh Krishna that truly set alarm bells ringing among the home support.