Fifth Test: England set India improbable target of 464

Alastair Cook, who is playing his final Test match, and captain Joe Root hit hundreds

cook-final-innings-ap Indian players shake hands with Alastair Cook as he leaves the field after being dismissed in his final Test innings during the fifth Test at the Oval in London | AP

England set India a victory target of 464 runs after declaring their second innings at 423/8 in the fifth and final Test. After centuries from Alastair Cook (147), who is playing his final Test match, and captain Joe Root (125), Adil Rashid (20 runs off 14 balls) ensured some quick runs at the end before the declaration was made.

Ben Stokes (37) and Sam Curran (21), too, got some vital runs to take England's lead past 450.

For the Indians, Ravindra Jadeja and debutant Hanuma Vihari took three wickets each, while Mohammed Shami scalped two.

Cook scored a memorable hundred in his final innings in company of skipper Joe Root, who was back in form with a three figure mark as England reached 364 for 6 at tea on the penultimate day of the fifth Test. The 259-run stand for the third wicket between Cook and Root killed the contest.

While Cook made it a memorable ending to his illustrious career with a 33rd hundred, Root scored his first hundred in 28 innings as Indian bowlers struggled in absence of an injured Ishant Sharma.

While Cook's 286 ball knock had 14 boundaries, Root hit 12 fours and a six off 190 balls as both were dismissed off successive deliveries by debutant Hanuma Vihari (2/24).

In the post lunch session, the duo looked to build on their partnership and further frustrate the Indian bowlers, bringing up their 200-stand off 303 balls.

Root, on 94, got a second life as Cheteshwar Pujara dropped him at first slip off Mohammed Shami (2-97) in the 77th over. He then went on to score his 14th Test hundred off 151 balls.

Thereafter, Root started attacking as England crossed 300 in the 88th over. India were a bowler short with Ishant leaving the field due to ankle pain.

Vihari struck twice in the 95th over. First, Root holed out and then Cook was caught behind, with the opener walking off to a standing ovation as well as congratulatory handshakes from the Indian team.

Shami then was rewarded as Jonny Bairstow (18) played on and Ravindra Jadeja (2-147) removed Jos Buttler for a duck as England looked to score some quick runs in sight of a declaration.

Earlier, Cook's hundred helped England reach 243/2 at lunch. Starting from overnight 114/2, first up he reached his half-century off 127 balls. On 76, Cook went past Kumar Sangakkara as the highest-scoring left-handed batsman in Test cricket history, and will finish as the fifth-highest run-scorer overall after Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis and Rahul Dravid.