James Anderson seals England Oval victory with record-breaking wicket in Alastair Cook's final Test

•  England vs India, fifth Test: scoreboard from the Oval

No more appropriate place in the whole world of cricket to say farewell than at the Oval, with all its histories and traditions, in front of the lofty Victorian splendour of the pavilion. No more appropriate time of year than autumn and the ending of another season. And there was no better way for Alastair Cook to say goodbye than after embracing his best teammate James Anderson, congratulating him on becoming the leading Test wicket-taker among all pace bowlers, and celebrating together an England victory for one last time.

It was therefore as joyful as any farewell to Test cricket could be. Cook himself observed that while it would have been nice if he had taken the catch to give Anderson his 564th wicket, thus overtaking Glenn McGrath, Anderson flattening middle stump made for an even better memory. And while it could be argued that regaining the Ashes, perhaps after winning by one run or one wicket to take the series 3-2, would have been even more spectacular, defeating India when the world's number one Test team, and by the margin of four Tests to one, and after they had fought into the last hour of this series, was perfectly satisfactory.

Anderson hailed Cook as England's greatest cricketer, citing his mental strength, and Cook returned the compliment, citing Anderson’s mental and physical strength. As batsmen and bowlers have little more in common than apples and bananas, it would be odious to take the comparison further. Suffice for the moment, at least until batteries have been recharged after one of the finest Test series - certainly the best in England for a generation which has not involved Australia - that Cook stands alone as England's highest run-scorer, and Anderson alone as their highest Test wicket-taker.

Both Anderson and Cook could even reign supreme forever - so foolish and short-sighted, so careless and incapable of recognising that which is valuable, have the sport's administrators been. Nothing can rival the crescendo of excitement in a five-Test series between two well-matched countries on pitches conducive to definite results. Yet the format of Test cricket is being allowed to dwindle, if not yet die, because it is only when England play Australia or India that the necessary ingredients for the sport to achieve its highest pinnacle exist.

It might have been the best of all Test series outside the Ashes if India had prepared themselves properly - not just one three-day 18--a-side game against Essex. The tourists were 2-0 down before any of their batsmen other than Virat Kohli had adjusted to the ball swinging and seaming, which Anderson made it do throughout - as did Ben Stokes in his fiery spell which won the first Test by 31 runs in the face of Kohli's magnificence, which was to be gradually worn down.

It was a shame too, save for rabid England supporters, that the summer drought broke on the eve of the second Test at Lord's: this series needed one high-scoring game, not necessarily a draw but one staged on a batting pitch, to provide a complete range of conditions. Overall the ball dominated bat slightly too much.

And there was a lack of variety resulting from Joe Root winning all five tosses. Save at Lord's, where India were sent in, England won when they batted first and eventually set India a target to chase. The missing link in this series was that England never chased 200-plus on a wearing pitch against India's spinners, though Cook would have given it a go. Ultimately England, in their own conditions, beat India as conclusively as India had beaten England in India.

Anderson was kept waiting 24 hours between his 563rd and 564th Test wicket. Most of that playing time was consumed by KL Rahul, who broke the shackles that had bound India's opening batsmen this summer to score a sumptuous 149 and share a sixth wicket stand of 204 with Rishabh Pant. Pant, an ebullient 20 year-old, became the first Indian wicketkeeper to score a Test century in England and the second youngest of all keepers to make a Test century.

Stuart Broad limped off before tea with a bruised rib, when Pant was launching himself into ever more expansive hits against Adil Rashid. India reached 325 for five, and the young keeper was tempted to go for glory and the target of 464. When Rahul was bowled by a legbreak that pitched into the rough - an absolute ripper though not the ball of this century because Rashid was bowling round the wicket and Rahul could have kicked it away - Pant, if older, would have revised down his ambitions and played for a draw.

Anderson, upon whom England are as dependent as ever, had to bowl a 14-over spell either side of tea to keep India check. Finally he was re-armed with the second new ball, but so was Sam Curran who nipped in with a couple of wickets - signs that he should often open England’s bowling in future. Only one wicket was left for Anderson’s delectation and delight, and the ideal inswinger did it. If it was any consolation for Mohammad Shami, hundreds have gone the same way.

Curran was a slightly surprising choice by India’s captain and coach Ravi Shastri as England’s player of the series: England’s selectors dropped him, after all, for the third Test. And whereas the tourists relied too heavily on Kohli, India's player of the series, it was essentially a magnificent team effort by the home side, and particularly by a hard core of players who now have two of the greatest examples to emulate.

6:16PM

England win 4-1

We say congratulations to the team, thank India for their part in a most enjoyable series. We say well done to James Anderson for his 564th wicket, top of the pace bowling charts, and we hope there are more to come. To Alastair Cook, thank you, and farewell. We'll have our match report ASAP. From us here, thanks and see you for the Sri Lanka series. Cheers.

6:15PM

Anderson and Cook

AC: A great way to finish. I will miss dropping his catches. All those flights we have taken, room service, meals out. I think he is England's greatest cricketer. God knows how many he is going to end up with

JA: He has been such a solid bloke. A great mate. I will miss that shoulder to (laughs) actually cry on. It's not just the whole he is leaving at the top of the order, it is everything he has done for English cricket.

AC: My job really was just to tell him to bowl it a bit fuller.

6:12PM

England win 4-1

A beguiling series: some highly enjoyable matches, some great performances, some shockers.

6:08PM

Joe Root

Very touch series, India have played some exceptional stuff, so have we. Test cricket in is a great place.

India's two lads played exceptionally today. Credit to our lads for holding their never.

Alastair has been exceptional, he has been a huge part of our dressing room, the standards he has set.

And the scary thing with jimmy is that he has a couple of years yet: IMO he is currently the best he has ever been.

We are growing all the time, we feel we are in a good space.

Thanks to all the supporters, it has been fantastic.

6:02PM

Virat Kohli gets India man of the series

Here are his words to Mike Atherton. Typically classy stuff from a vital ambassador. 

He's asked what the lie of the land is for the Test format and says this series is a good example.

5:55PM

Sam Curran gets England man of the series

(that's one in the eye for Ed Smith, no? Having dropped him, I mean....)

Anyway here are Sam's quotes.

5:53PM

Alastair Cook man of the match quotes

5:49PM

Can you guess who the Man of the Match is?

5:48PM

England win the series 4-1

This match: England 332 & 423/8d beat 292 & 345 by 118 runs

5:44PM

Farewell Cook

But Jimmy will march on.

Even Glenn says so! 

5:38PM

Best pals

5:35PM

James Anderson on Sky

"It has been a tough week. I wasn't really thinking about the record, just about winning the game.

"Thankfully Joe took the new ball eventually and gave me the chance to take the wicket!

Ian Ward asks him "you're going to miss him, aren't you?" about Cook. Jimmy says that he wanted to go past Glenn McGrath's record while Cook was still playing in the side.

"He's my best mate." And then he gets a bit choked up. Jimmy! Oh my goodness. I've got a bit of a t in the e myself. What an amazing pair of cricketers they have been.

5:30PM

England win by 118 runs

And is it not the measure of the two men that Cook and Anderson are arguing that the other should lead the team off! 

5:29PM

WICKET Shami b Anderson 0

He has done it! Anderson needs three balls at Mohammed Shami, and the third one of them has detonated the tailender's middle stump. Perfect ball, perfect end to the match for England, and the perfect way to become the leading Test pace bowler of all time. FOW 345/10

5:26PM

OVER 94: IND 345/9 ( Shami 0* Bumrah 0*)  

Curran closes out the over with two wide-ish balls. Bumrah resists.

5:24PM

WICKET! Jadeja c Bairstow b Curran 13

Steady on, young Curran: leave some for Jimmy! Excellent line, he has to play, he pushes at the ball, simple edge. FOW 345/9

5:21PM

OVER 93: IND 341/8 (Jadeja 9* Shami 0*) 

What does Jimmy have to do?! Jadeja, loose shot, Harrow-Drives the ball past his own stumps. Pinches the strike off the last ball, too.

15 overs left.

5:17PM

OVER 92: IND 336/8 (Jadeja 4*)

Jadeja had obviously decided not to shield Ishant and fair enough, but the big man was sorted out fair and square by that ball.

5:14PM

WICKET! Ishant c Baristow b Curran 5

Game effort from Ishant but it's over last ball of the over as Curran bamboozles the beanpole seamer forward with a ball in the channel. Neither back not forward.  Little prod, little edge, and that's regulation for Baristow. FOW 336/8

Ishant reviews, but in vain.

5:12PM

It will be Sam Curran

to share this new ball. Broad is off injured.

5:08PM

OVER 91: IND 334/7 (Jadeja 3* Sharma 5*)               

Anderson takes the new ball. Jadeja is able to leave the first one. Next two shape back into him, ball three of the over doing a bit too much an thwumping away for a leg bye.

Gives Ishant the outswinger. Dogged from the big seamer. He's beaten by a peach last ball of the over.

5:03PM

OVER 90: IND 334/7 (Jadeja 3* Sharma 5*)              

Ishant drives Rashid for four! Shot. We need drinks.

4:59PM

OVER 89: IND 330/7 (Jadeja 3* Sharma 1*)             

Anderson banging it out with this rag of an old ball, but Jadeja is taking no chances.

Probably  too late for Sir Jadeja to make it five but who knows?

4:58PM

OVER 88: IND 330/7 (Jadeja 3* Sharma 1*)            

Rashers, over the wicket, fizzes the ball past Ishant's outside edge. But Ishant picks his bosie later in the over and is hanging on.

4:56PM

OVER 87 IND 330/7 (Jadeja 3* Sharma 1*)           

Dropped!It was a very hard chance for Bairstow. Anderson found some reverse, and in turn found Jadeja's edge. It was dying as it flew towards the keeper's left, YJB did his best but could only get the tip of a finger on it.

4:51PM

OVER 86: IND 330/7 (Jadeja 3* Sharma 1*)          

Ishant singles second ball, but Jadeja then takes one third ball so he's obviously prepared to let Sharma see how he goes at Rashid. Sharma elects to play with the bat not the pads, and it pops off his handle to loop over silly point.

4:44PM

OVER 85: IND 328/7 (Jadeja 2* Sharma 0*)         

Wily old Jimmy varies his angles and widths to keep Jadeja single-free. 

Rashid will get first use of Ishant Sharma.

4:42PM

OVER 84: IND 328/7 (Jadeja 2*)        

Pant trudges off. Last ball of the over. He played thrillingly and daringly, very enjoyable stuff. You might perhaps say that he lost his head a bit towards the end but, hey, not too shabby for a 20-year-old on dayboo. A fun, very encouraging innings.

4:40PM

WICKET! Pant c Ali b Rashid 114

And we'll get a chance to look at India's ferrets without any further ado! Pant couldn't help himself, and I don't think anyone will really blame him, he's failed to pick the googly and had a huge slog at it. Ali makes no mistake in the deep. FOW 328/7

We've seen this before, with teams 'chasing' a monumental, nominal score. When the situation's hopeless, lower middle order men are happy as clams. Once there is even the flash of a thought of a possibility, the wickets tumble quickly.

4:38PM

OVER 83: IND 326/6 (Pant 113* Jadeja 1*)       

Anderson continues with some solid fare. Jadeja keeping it very tight. Taking no risks. It's a change in tactics for India, for the time being anyway. With three genuine tailenders to come, England are a wicket away, surely. 

Any one of Shami, Sharma and Bummers could be an 11.

4:32PM

OVER 82: IND 326/6 (Pant 113* Jadeja 1*)      

Jadeja off and running with a single. Now a bit shout against Pant. The bat hit the turf, the ball hit the elbow as he tried to sweep. England like it as the ball pops up, but nothing doing. They have no reviews. PS reviews no longer reset after 80 overs.

The vaguely end-of-term feel continues when Pant tries to reverse sweep, misses and smashes himself in the foot. He drops the bat in pain. Its edge is so chunky that it can rest on the edge..

4:28PM

Ravi Jadeja comes in

Can Sir produce something exceptional?

4:26PM

WICKET! KL Rahul b Adil Rashid 149

That is some delivery! That has turned a mile. Wow. A proper ripper out of the rough, he's squared up and left sort of trying to tickle it around the corner but it just turns too much. A superb knock was going to need something special to end it. FOW 325/6

4:24PM

OVER 81: IND 325/5 (Rahul 149* Pant 113*)     

Just a single off the over. Pant takes no liberties with JM Anderson.

4:20PM

OVER 80: IND 324/5 (Rahul 148* Pant 113*)    

Pant gets down early and tries to reverse sweep out of the rough. The ball turns a mile. He's trying to whack every ball, but cannot connect. Four byes off the over bring up the 200. The players have a cuddle and I think Rahul has had a little word, telling him just to take it down a notch. He literally tried to hit every ball of that over out of the ground.

The new ball is due... but not taken right away.

4:17PM

OVER 79: IND 320/5 (Rahul 148* Pant 113*)   

Pant comes down the wicket to Anderson and chips the ball over midwicket for four. Enterprising stuff. Anderson keeps the rest of the over tight, series of dot balls. Sixth ball sees a hint of a sniff of a runout. India are going for the win here.

4:13PM

OVER 78: IND 316/5 (Rahul 144* Pant 113*)  

India are awarded two leg byes as Rahul makes only the merest hint of playing at this delivery from Rashid. Later in the over, a ball spits from the rough and evades Baristow, two byes. Rashid with a very wide ball, Pant somehow reaches it and plants it over extra cover. Nine off the over.

Have England got enough?!

4:11PM

OVER 77: IND 307/5 (Rahul 143* Pant 109*) 

Jimmy trying some inswingers and cutters but this pitch has died and there's little help from the old ball. There is a single off each man.

4:02PM

OVER 76: IND 305/5 (Rahul 142* Pant 108*)

Rashid's seven overs so far have gone for 42. The first four balls of the over are very wide outside Pant's off stump. Tightens the line, and Pant smashes him for a straight six. Shot! Next ball, he tries a flamboyant drive out of the rough, and it's nearly curtains. One of those players with whom one has to take the rough with the smooth, is Nasser Hussain's call. An undeserved single for that through leg slip.

3:59PM

Here come KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant

They have batted superbly. 32 overs remain. The new ball is five overs away, and here is Adil Rashid.

3:55PM

Afternoon all

Tyers here. The final session of the final day of the final Test of what has been an absorbing summer. The England team have thrilled and frustrated us, but yesterday gave us all one of those moments that make you remember why you fell in love in the first place. Alastair Cook's final innings century, and the reaction to it, made for a wonderful occasion.

It looked then as if it would be a mere formality for England to knock over the last few demoralised Indian batsmen, and give Cook a win to savour. And be into the beers by lunch. Well, it has not come to pass like that: India have batted very well, the pitch has gone to sleep and here we are: India need 166 to win with five wickets in hand. KL Rahul is on 142*, Rishabh Pant is unbeaten on 101* and who knows if we might yet see a thrilling finale?

3:43PM

TEA: IND 298/5

England will take the new ball in five overs. India need 166 to win off 33 overs. This wonderful, absorbing series is coming to an appropriately enthralling climax. I'll leave you in the hands of Alan Tyers to take you through to the close. 

3:41PM

OVER 75: IND 298/5 (Rahul 142* Pant 101*) Chasing 464 for victory 

This should be the last over before tea and Anderson will bowl it to Rahul who has played out a couple of maidens since he came back into the attack. Bairstow is standing up to him to stop him using his feet. And it's another maiden. What a session for India. 

3:38PM

OVER 74: IND 298/5 (Rahul 142* Pant 101*) Chasing 464 for victory 

Pant brings up a maiden Test century at the age of 20, a first by an Indian keeper in England, with a six off one knee over wide long on. He's also the youngest Test centurion at the Oval in 138 years of Test cricket in Kennington. There are two men on the fence and he launches the ball over both. Two balls earlier Rahul had been hit on the pad in front but the ball pitched outside the line. 

3:32PM

OVER 73: IND 290/5 (Rahul 141* Pant 94*) Chasing 464 for victory

It's the old 'World XI at one end and Ilford seconds at the other' Gooch-Hadlee trope at the moment. Another maiden for Anderson to an understandably wary and becalmed Rahul. 

3:27PM

OVER 72: IND 290/5 (Rahul 141* Pant 94*) Chasing 464 for victory

Amazing shot from Pant, down on one knee to wallop it over long on and into row P in the pavilion for six. The next is a leggie that turns square but without any nip so Pant rides it to cuff it through midwicket for a single. Rahul, playing second fiddle this past hour, is beaten down the legside by one that skids on and then taps a tip and run single to cover. 

3:24PM

OVER 71: IND 282/5 (Rahul 140* Pant 87*) Chasing 464 for victory

England need to find a way to cut off the flow of runs and if Anderson does not appear menacing, neutered by then pitch and lack of swing, he is still canny enough to rack up a maiden with a testing line and length. Rashid will replace Broad after his brief burst with a popped rib. 

3:21PM

OVER 70: IND 282/5 (Rahul 140* Pant 87*) Chasing 464 for victory

Broad starts and ends the over leaking fours through third man. The first was a genuine attacking shot form Pant, swatted down there with a horizontal bat. The other bookend was a spawny edge, catching the bat on the shoulder and arrowing between the slip and gully.  

3:15PM

OVER 69: IND 274/5 (Rahul 140* Pant 79*) Chasing 464 for victory

Anderson it is and Rahul plays straight to three until he strains for the inswinger and fires one down the legside, clipping the opener's pad en route to four leg-byes. As my former colleague Jonathan Liew notes, Sky has changed its graphic from England need five wickets to win to "target 464". Some of us have been there all day! India require 190 off 39 overs. 

3:12PM

OVER 68: IND 270/5 (Rahul 140* Pant 79*) Chasing 464 for victory

Board gets one to trampoline out of a foothold and leap at Rahul. He went for the drive and popped it off the splice just wide of cover. They run a single. Pant also done by unusual bounce, whips a ball off middle through the air past midwicket. England emit an anguished cry but the ball still flies for four. The partnership is 149 off 188 balls. A raucous cheer greets Anderson taking off his jumper to come on from the other end. 

3:05PM

OVER 67: IND 265/5 (Rahul 139* Pant 75*) Chasing 464 for victory

Three gorgeous shots from Pant off Stokes, the first swatted through point, the next pulled balletically through midwicket and the third punched off the back foot behind square. The lad can play. Stokes, in a funk, boots the ball back up the pitch after Pant defends the last back to him. India now need 199 to win. 

3:01PM

OVER 66: IND 253/5 (Rahul 139* Pant 63*) Chasing 464 for victory

Root uses both sides of the wicket, increases and decreases his pace by up to 15mph between deliveries but cannot prevent them milking him for three singles. Are they really saving Anderson and Broad for the new ball? The match could be tilted India's way by then. If not them, why not try Sam Curran?  

2:57PM

OVER 65: IND 250/5 (Rahul 138* Pant 61*) Chasing 464 for victory

After consultation at drinks, England revert to the chin music line of attack. Stokes puts a  couple of men out on the hook but there's no bounce. This pitch needs one of the little blue pills for which Pele used to shill. Pant exploits the gentle nature to pull for a single. He pitches the ball up to Rahul who blocks out the over. 

2:53PM

OVER 64: IND 249/5 (Rahul 138* Pant 60*) Chasing 464 for victory

Rahul uses his feet to smear a straight drive for a single, Pant cuts the regulation short ball for one then Rahul advances again. Root sees him coming, pushes it wider and bowls it quicker from round the wicket but Rahul reaches it with his clothesline prop and torpedoes it through the covers with a sweet and brutal drive. The sixth-wicket partnership increases to 129. 

2:49PM

OVER 63: IND 243/5 (Rahul 133* Pant 59*) Chasing 464 for victory

Stokes resumes with five dot balls to Rahul who plays them unhurriedly then farms the strike with a running glide down to third man for a single.   

2:41PM

OVER 62: IND 242/5 (Rahul 132* Pant 59*) Chasing 464 for victory

Pant drives at one out of the rough and launches it off the leading edge over cover point for two. Shouts of catch it but he got enough on it to clear the infield. Next ball is in the succulent slot and Pant drills it through cover for four, deadheading every daisy on its path. England are drifting. Drinks. 

2:37PM

OVER 61: IND 236/5 (Rahul 132* Pant 53*) Chasing 464 for victory 

A maiden Test fifty for the 20-year-old Pant and he brings it up with a back-foot punch through point for a single. Off comes the helmet as he acknowledges the dressing room, revealing his blond highlights. Rahul gives him a bear hug. Stokes goes back to the very short stuff and Rahul pulls fine for a single, Pant drives a fuller one for two then hooks the last to deep fine leg for one more. Five off the over. 

2:34PM

OVER 60: IND 231/5 (Rahul 131* Pant 49*) Chasing 464 for victory 

Root, bowling at a quicker pace than Moeen or Rashid, spearing darts into the rough, beats Pant's edge as he props forward. Like the other two, though, he opens the valve with a drag down and Pant swivels and flogs it down to the square leg sweeper for a single.  

2:31PM

OVER 59: IND 230/5 (Rahul 131* Pant 48*) Chasing 464 for victory 

Stokes opens the face to glide a single behind square on the offside and Pant slaps one down to the point boundary. Bumble says the last pounding by the heavy roller this morning was the death knell for the pitch and consequently 'batting is easy'. There are 49 overs left. India require 234, which is 4.7 an over from here. It's not going to happen ...

2:27PM

OVER 58: IND 228/5 (Rahul 130* Pant 47*) Chasing 464 for victory

Four byes off Root as one keeps low out of the rough and scuttles beneath Bairstow's lunge. It helps keep India up with the required rate after lunch ... 

2:24PM

OVER 57: IND 223/5 (Rahul 129* Pant 47*) Chasing 464 for victory

Stokes is bowling fuller this spell after his back-breaking pre-lunch barrage. Pant glances a single fine, Rahul whips another to fine leg but then Pant has a flick at one angled across him from round the wicket and England emit a high-throated wail, knowing they were close to a strangle. Bat hit the ground not the ball, though.

2:20PM

OVER 56: IND 221/5 (Rahul 128* Pant 46*) Chasing 464 for victory

Root begins with a maiden, deploying his rarely-seen leg-break that fools Rahul. He defends the rest watchfully.  

2:17PM

OVER 55: IND 221/5 (Rahul 128* Pant 46*) Chasing 464 for victory

That's the end for the leg-spinner. Stokes is back on but he receives the same treatment as Pant square drives with an open face for four behind point then spears a legside drive over midwicket for another to bring up the 100 partnership off 110 balls. Double bowling change. Root is bringing himself on for Moeen. 

2:13PM

OVER 54: IND 213/5 (Rahul 128* Pant 38*) Chasing 464 for victory

Two wonderful shots to warm the heart of India. Pant comes down the pitch to spank Moeen through cover for four and then, after taking a single to the cover sweeper, Rahul takes to the dancefloor and launches it over mid-off for a one-bounce four. 

2:11PM

OVER 53: IND 204/5 (Rahul 124* Pant 33*) Chasing 464 for victory

Another loose ball from a spinner, this one from Rashid, is gobbled up by Pant who scythes it for four through point. Alastair Cook is the boundary rider and can't cut it off from cover. Rashid's mid-off saves singles but mid on is on the rope and Pant pops a drive one down there to pinch the strike.

Here's Rishabh Pant's one-handed six before lunch:

2:05PM

OVER 52: IND 198/5 (Rahul 123* Pant 28*) Chasing 464 for victory

Both spinners have a weakness for the drag down and Moeen releases the tension after catching the edge of Pant's bat. The feather fell short of the two slips but Pant didn't miss the long hop, cuffing it through midwicket for a single. Rahul pushes one through midwicket, too. 

2:03PM

OVER 51: IND 195/5 (Rahul 121* Pant 27*) Chasing 464 for victory 

It's clear why Ed Smith likes Rashid. he called him one of the best cricketers in England on Sunday when talking to Jonathan Agnew on TMS and says, as such, he is a key component of the squad. And here he bowls a beauty on a September pitch that dips on Pant and fizzes past his outside edge. Four good balls are followed by a shorter one and Pant strokes it down to long-on. Rahul takes a pair of singles with positive defensive pushes into the offside. 

1:59PM

OVER 50: IND 192/5 (Rahul 119* Pant 26*) Chasing 464 for victory 

Only the single after some freescoring overs off the spinners. Rahul thumps it off the back foot down to the busy cover sweeper. Pant plays more circumspectly this over, defending a couple and letting one skip by. 

1:56PM

OVER 49: IND 191/5 (Rahul 118* Pant 26*) Chasing 464 for victory

Enormous turn for Rashid out of the trough outside the left-hander's off-stump. Pant rocks back and cuffs two off his pads then plays a very streaky lofted drive out of the rough, losing control but managing to clear mid off who had been brought up for the misplaced chip. Rashid responds with a beauty tossed up above Pant's eyes and the batsman hurries a defensive. 

1:52PM

OVER 48: IND 182/5 (Rahul 117* Pant 18*) Chasing 464 for victory

No dramatic or rapid turn so far and Moeen is milked for five, three singles and a two, the latter for Rahul with a cover drive. All five runs come from drives. 

1:50PM

OVER 47: IND 177/5 (Rahul 113* Pant 17*) Chasing 464 for victory

If Rashid's role is to bowl out the tail and break partnerships, he should be in his element here, according to the commentators. Should being the operative word. I can't help thinking that his lack of bowling all summer - as was proper given the conditions -  means he may lack the rhythm. He would benefit from a longish spell. Rahul reads the googly and steps back to drill it down to cover for two then on drives against the turn for a single. The over ends with a drag down to the left-hander who carves it behind square for four. 

1:45PM

OVER 46: IND 170/5 (Rahul 110* Pant 13*) Chasing 464 for victory

Andplay! Moeen to Rahul who immediately gets off strike with a flick off his toes. Pant defends a couple, misses out on a cut shot then drives to the cover sweeper for a single. Rahul uses the turn to whip one more single off his pads. It's very dark at the Oval, the lights are on and we will have spin at both ends. 

1:05PM

LUNCH: IND 167/5 

Good session for India featuring a century partnership and a marvellous hundred from KL Rahul but England's softly softly approach will edge them to victory one suspects. Back after the break. 

1:03PM

OVER 45: IND 167/5 (Rahul 108* Pant 12*) Chasing 464 for victory

Rahul leans back to tap a single off Rashid through point but Pant looks all at sea at first, missing the googly as he tried to pull and hit on the globe as he tried to sweep. Fortunately the ball was deflected on to pad and then fell on the ground. That's lunch.

1:00PM

OVER 44: IND 166/5 (Rahul 107* Pant 12*) Chasing 464 for victory

Extraordinary shot from Pant to end the over after defending four. He comes down the pitch and smashes it over long on for six. The sheer force of his stroke and a misjudgment of length meant his bottom hand came off the bat but he still clobbered it one-handed into the stand. Adil Rashid will bowl the last over before lunch. 

12:58PM

OVER 43: IND 159/5 (Rahul 106* Pant 6*) Chasing 464 for victory

Stokes continues with his probing peppering of Rahul who sways inside the line, blocks a couple on the back foot, hooks one for four and another, squarer for a single. According to Nasser, because Rahul plays so much white ball cricket England feel he is vulnerable to the chin symphony. But there's no pace in the pitch for Stokes to work with ... and the lad can hook and is unafraid to do so. 

12:51PM

OVER 42: IND 154/5 (Rahul 101* Pant 6*) Chasing 464 for victory

Moeen has two slips in for Pant and is aiming for the rough outside the left-hander's off-stump. He drifts the first on to the all-rounder's pads and he cuffs him through the onside for two. He looks vulnerable to the leg-before with bat adjacent to pad and gate closed in the old school fashion but so far so good for Pant. 

12:47PM

OVER 41: IND 152/5 (Rahul 101* Pant 4*) Chasing 464 for victory

Rahul moves into the nineties with an outrageous shot off a Stokes bouncer outside off. He swats it with a flat bat over deep extra for six! He lets the next bouncer pass him then hooks the next fine for four to move to 97. Stokes responds with a fourth short ball that Rahul ducks ... then a fifth. He pitches the last one up and Rahul pulls it off the toe through mid-off to bring up his century. What a terrific innings. 

12:44PM

OVER 40: IND 138/5 (Rahul 87* Pant 4*) Chasing 464 for victory

Rahul puts his pedal to the metal, reverse sweeping Moeen for four with a slick-wristed switch then plays the traditional sweep for four more. What a lovely pair of shots. 

12:42PM

OVER 39: IND 129/5 (Rahul 78* Pant 4*) Chasing 464 for victory

The cameraman picks out a woman in the crowd reading the Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine. How does she expect to construct a proper pint pot snake is she keeps getting distracted? Youth of today, eh? No application. Rahul weathers Stokes' barrage and ends the over with a pull for a single down to fine leg. 

12:37PM

OVER 38: IND 128/5 (Rahul 77* Pant 4*) Chasing 464 for victory

Big appeal from Moeen and England when Rahul is trapped in front when trying to sweep but it pitched outside off stump. That puts PAnt on strike and the T20 specialist is beaten past the outside edge when propping forward but fights back with a vicious pull for four when Moeen gives him a long hop. 

12:31PM

OVER 37: IND 121/5 (Rahul 74* Pant 0*) Chasing 464 for victory

Stokes replaces Curran despite the breakthrough. He has no slip but there's a gully. Stokes, operating on the Cpl Jones principle that 'they don't like it up 'em' is going to pepper then. Rahul trolls him by edging straight through the vacant slips for a single. But Vihari is not so self-assured and Stokes reaps a dividend within three balls. Pant looks better equipped against pace and gets in line to defend the first in front of his adam's apple then dodges the last with a Boycottian sway. 

12:26PM

Wicket!

Vihari c Bairstow b Stokes 0Stokes brought on to be the enforcer, tries some sternum music to Vihari who is unsettled by the tactic and is caught behind off the shoulder of his bat. FOW 121/5

12:23PM

OVER 36: IND 120/4 (Rahul 72* Vihari 0*) Chasing 464 for victory 

Rahul sweeps properly for a single, Rahane improperly and falls. In comes Vihari who smothers the turn with a low angled bat. 

12:19PM

Wicket!

Rahane c Jennings b Moeen 37There's the breakthrough, the partnership is broken at 118. Rahane, emulating Rahul, goes down to sweep but spoons it off the toe of the bat to midwicket where Jennings pouches it on his knees. "Jennings caught it," says Harbhajan with a distinct sarcastic edge. Miaow. FOW 120/4

12:18PM

OVER 35: IND 119/3 (Rahul 72* Rahane 37*) Chasing 464 for victory 

If Stokes isn't lame he should be on for Curran who is taking a bit of tap with his half ratpower deliveries. Rahane whips a four off middle for four with a sweetly-timed flick and then cracks a square cut for four more, the point sweeper having been moved to cover sweeper. Two fine strokes. 

12:16PM

OVER 34: IND 111/3 (Rahul 72* Rahane 29*) Chasing 464 for victory 

And there is the hundred partnership, Rahul cover driving Moeen for four. A curly-haired toddler familiar to anyone with Pear's soap art, on the loose behind the bowler's arm, causes Rahun to step away late and Moeen goes through with the delivery. The ball grips, rips and beats the stumps. Dharmasena belatedly calls dead ball.  Rahul bags another boundary with a lap sweep fine and ends the over with a repeat of the punch through cover but this one is cut off by the sweeper and they settle for two. 

12:10PM

OVER 33: IND 101/3 (Rahul 62* Rahane 29*) Chasing 464 for victory 

Curran chooses to come round the wicket after the break, overpitches outside off stump and Rahane pings the low full toss through point with a square drive for four. After blocking a couple Rahane comes down the pitch again but can't penetrate the offside ring. A hundred for India and these two are on teh threshold of a century partnership after coming together at two for three. 

12:02PM

OVER 32: IND 97/3 (Rahul 62* Rahane 25*) Chasing 464 for victory 

Rahul is pinned by a pea-roller but Kumar Dharmasena made a superb decision, backed up by the third umpire. Maiden ... and drinks. 

12:00PM

England review

Rahul lbw b MoeenKept low. Did it hit him outside the line. Yes it did. NOT OUT. 

11:58AM

OVER 31: IND 97/3 (Rahul 62* Rahane 25*) Chasing 464 for victory 

Rahane uses his feet to mess with Curran;s length but cannot beat midwicket because the line is too tight. He turns another into a half-volley with a skip down but is robbed of a four by Buttler's diving save at short extra. But he will not be denied, advances a third time and this time crunches a drive wide of Buttler for four. Anderson gives chase but cannot catch it. 

11:55AM

OVER 30: IND 93/3 (Rahul 62* Rahane 21*) Chasing 464 for victory 

Tears before bedtime and spin before drinks. Moeen draws the false shot from Rahane who misreads the length, tries to cut a fullish ball and is relieved not to drag it on. He plays the next on the back foot too, bit cuffs it through midwicket for a single. Rahul taps one through cover and Rahane, playing exclusively off the back foot this over, dabs another between point and third man. 

11:51AM

OVER 29: IND 90/3 (Rahul 61* Rahane 19*) Chasing 464 for victory 

Maiden for Curran and he elicits the edge from Rahul who is saved by his loose grip and soft hands as the ball dies in front of the slips. Another beats him as it jags away off the pitch but he survives unflustered. 

11:48AM

OVER 28: IND 90/3 (Rahul 61* Rahane 19*) Chasing 464 for victory 

Broad tests Rahul with a bouncer that he hooks down towards deep backward square for a single. Played that well. Broad posts a short mid on for Rahane, just ahead of the umpire and non-striker and then drops short. Rahane slaps two through point. Rahane is keen to use his feet and takes a quick-step down to defend to mid off. He beats the field with a check-drive for two after Broad and Anderson lobby unsuccessfully for a ball change. Over in Australia, the selectors have omitted Glenn Maxwell, who made a century in Ranchi last year, from the series against Pakistan in the UAE, claiming he wasn't right for the conditions. What a load of bull----. Should give England great heart for the Ashes that they're leaving out such a talented player on a false premise given the animosity among Australia's ball-tampering community towards such a mercurial player. 

11:41AM

OVER 27: IND 85/3 (Rahul 60* Rahane 15*) Chasing 464 for victory 

After some pretty innocuous stuff, tame in pace and movement, Curran beats Rahane with a couple of jaffas that pitch on middle and sear past the batsman's forward prod. He is trying to protect himself from the inswinger ... but it's bringing the outside edge into play when Curran moves it away. 

11:39AM

OVER 26: IND 84/3 (Rahul 59* Rahane 15*) Chasing 464 for victory 

Rahul plays inside the line of a Broad outswinger, thinking it would veer in, and is beaten. He retakes his guard, waits for the short one, then control-pulls it with rolled wrists for a single. Rahane blocks a couple then plays and misses at the last as it leaves him. Ben Stokes is warming up and he has frazzled Rahane's perception of where his off-stump is throughout the series. But first it will be Sam Curran. Those who were hoping for a spell from Alastair Cook, bowling av 7.00, will be severely disappointed:

11:33AM

OVER 25: IND 83/3 (Rahul 58* Rahane 15*) Chasing 464 for victory

Anderson is no more sanguine about being hit for runs even though he should be excited that Rahane is mistiming every attacking stroke so far, this one a toed cut for two. If you're one of those people, as Denis Norden used to say, who bats by the clock, that's one half-hour survived by India. Eleven, possibly 12 to go. 

11:28AM

OVER 24: IND 81/3 (Rahul 58* Rahane 13*) Chasing 464 for victory

Shot! Rahul climbs into a cover drive and smokes it to the fence. Broad ought to like him driving with his bat away from his body against the moving ball but he doesn't look happy. Purloining and changing what Geoffrey was supposed to have said in 1978: "But what about my economy rate?"

11:24AM

OVER 23: IND 77/3 (Rahul 54* Rahane 13*) Chasing 464 for victory

It's swinging nicely this morning and the breeze is helping Anderson's outswing and Broad's inswing. Rahul plays off the back foot through point for a single. More a chisel than a hammer. Extravagant shot from Rahane, chasing a wide one, could have brought his downfall as he tried to reach one that he expected to lift and scythe it square but it wasn't short enough and the ball bounced through under his horizontal bat. 

11:18AM

OVER 22: IND 76/3 (Rahul 53* Rahane 13*) Chasing 464 for victory

Rahul displays his susceptibility to the one that nips back in, inside-edging his attempted back-foot punch close but just past the stumps. They run a single. Next ball is pitched up further, hoops into Rahane's pads and goes for four leg byes. Broad appeals but it was missing another set of stumps. Using his feet, Rahane drives two, not middling it though and clothing it wide of mid on. The over ends with another huge inswinger that flicks the side of Rahane's front pad and goes for four more leg-byes. 

11:13AM

OVER 21: IND 65/3 (Rahul 52* Rahane 11*) Chasing 464 for victory

Broad actually cracked his rib, he told Jonathan Agnew, in the dressing room after being hit by Bumrah out on the field. It snapped when he turned sharply some time after the blow. Rahul takes a couple of singles with soft-handed deflections into the offside as Anderson drops a little short then Rahane rides the bounce, taps the ball to point and hares a single. 

11:08AM

OVER 20: IND 62/3 (Rahul 50* Rahane 10*) Chasing 464 for victory

Here comes Stuart Broad who, we learn, cracked a rib when batting on Saturday. Maybe that will make his omission for the Sri Lanka tour a formality now, allowing him to rest for West Indies and the home Ashes series next summer. Rahane has to play at the first five, defending the three that shape out and the two that follow and veer back into him. Is that reverse swing after only 19 overs. Rahane blocks the last, too. Maiden. 

11:04AM

OVER 19: IND 62/3 (Rahul 50* Rahane 10*) Chasing 464 for victory

Anderson begins with three outswingers to Rahul who leaves each of them well alone. Tightening his line, Anderson makes him play at the next, which Rahul does with an angled bat into the offside. The fifth shapes away and Rahul doesn't even bring his bat down from the apex of its backswing. The inswinger finally comes and Rahul clips it off his pads for four to become the second opener of the series after Cook on Friday and yesterday to make a half-century. 

10:59AM

Out come the England players

To the strains of Jerusalem. Anderson will have first crack. Sparse crowd so far. 

10:17AM

Good morning 

And welcome to live coverage of the last day of England's season and their final international until Oct 10 and the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Dambulla. If yesterday was all about Alastair Cook's fitting finale, a glorious 33rd century that captured him one last time at his fluent, efficient best, today will also largely be about Cook as we bid farewell to one of the game's greatest servants.  And that's what has been so heartening over the past week, Cook's retirement has been greeted with genuine warmth from all corners, a reminder in these choleric times that those who truly love cricket love the game more than partisanship.

But we should not, of course, overlook the man who has shared 130 Tests alongside him, James Anderson. Today Jimmy can go past Glenn McGrath's 563 Test wickets and make himself the nonpareil of wicket-taking quick bowlers. His dismissals of Shikhar Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara were stunning and yet also seemingly simple. His skill should never be blurred by familiarity. The way he manipulates the ball with such diabolic precision in England to expose a batsman's vulnerabilities has been a privilege to experience. While we are losing one of the towering statistical greats of English Test cricket, we should treasure the other all the more. Which of the achievements is England's Everest and which K2 I'll leave you to judge but my own prejudice would rate Anderson's slightly higher. It's b----- hard work bowling ... any thoughts, please, to the usual place: rob.bagchi@telegraph.co.uk

As for India, they plugged on gamely yesterday with Ravi Jadeja and Mohammed Shami bowling with commendable heart and dexterity. Young Hanuma Vihari picked up three wickets and continued with impressive fortitude after being struck a sickening blow on the helmet at short leg. The loss of three quick wickets has all but wrecked any chance they had of surviving through to today's close but there were signs last night of application, resistance and prowess from KL Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane to allow them, if not us, go to bed dreaming of another initialled batsman, VVS Laxmann, and another vice-captain, Rahul Dravid and Kolkata 2001 when backs were even more severely pressed to the wall. As Cook could tell them, sometimes dreams do come true. Join us as we plot their fortunes.