It ended, and yet it didn’t. The Oval Test felt like an excerpt from a Rabindranath Tagore short story. In the late afternoon, thick dark clouds cloaked the London sky, and play came to a premature halt. Like a pending pension file in a government office, 35 runs were left unresolved — a night of unsettling suspense.
England needed 374 runs for victory — a tough ask. That path became even tougher when they lost three wickets for 106 runs. Most thought the match would be wrapped up on the fourth day itself. But Harry Brook had other ideas.
Granted a lifeline on 19 runs due to a mistake by Mohammad Siraj, Brook accelerated with ease, batting in whites with the flair of a one-day knock. He raced past a century at a strike rate of 114. Like the roots of a century-old banyan tree, Joe Root too settled deep into the crease once again.
At that point, victory for England seemed only a matter of time. But the situation changed in a flash. After Brook’s dismissal, Root soon followed him back to the pavilion. His 105-run knock ended, and along with it came creases of worry on England’s forehead.
Now, England need just 35 more runs, while India need only four deliveries — four lethal balls to seal the thrilling Oval Test in their favor. The result could very well have been decided in the final hour of Day 4.
But then, winds swept in and thick clouds loomed over the Kennington Oval. The umpires signaled: enough excitement — now go enjoy the rain. But how could anyone enjoy it? Both dressing rooms sat frozen with tense jaws and anxious eyes.
What will happen on Day 5?
Even seeking that answer will take a sleepless night.
If only the rain had waited until the night!
