With a record total of 378 to chase down, England wins the fifth Test by seven wickets, breaking their previous mark of 359 set at Headingley during the 2019 Ashes. This results in a 2-2 tie of the five-match series with India.

In the fifth LV= Insurance Test, which was rescheduled against India, England made history by successfully pursuing 378 to win and tie the series 2-2. Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow both struck magnificent hundreds.

On the final morning, England needed 119 more runs to complete their highest-ever successful run chase in Test cricket, but instead of being a tense situation, Root (142 not out) and Bairstow (114 not out) made a mockery of the target, leading England home inside 20 overs.

Under cloudy skies, India discovered some early reverse swing, but their seamers were unable to control it, giving England’s in-form combination far too many opportunities to score boundaries, which they did not take advantage of.

 

Watch how England batter Joe Root extended his incredible form by scoring his 28th hundred in a Test match.

The biggest contest of the day ultimately came down to who would reach their century first, with Root defeating Bairstow to score his 28th Test century in 136 balls. Root then played a series of increasingly risky shots, including another amazing reverse-ramp for six, as the needed runs were quickly amassed.

After a shaky 90s while Root accelerated through the gears at the other end, Bairstow eventually reached his own superb hundred – his third in as many innings, sixth this year, and 12th overall – off 138 balls.

 

Root, who led England during the first four Tests of the series last summer, scored the winning runs shortly after noon. This was England’s fourth run chase of more than 250 runs this summer, breaking their previous total of 359 set at Headingley in the 2019 Ashes.

Though India was looking for early wickets and England was undoubtedly the favourite going into the final morning, a quick rising delivery from Mohammed Siraj that flew by Root first up served as a reminder that there may still be some twists and turns.

They had the ideal circumstances to succeed, but due to some odd field configurations and some erratic bowling to go along with them, the game and thus their dreams of securing only a fourth series victory in England quickly fell apart.

With consecutive boundaries hit off Mohammed Shami’s second over of the day, Bairstow made his intentions clear. However, the spinner did respond well, beating the outside edge to complete the over.

Although the ball did so on a few other occasions—Bairstow also had the occasional careless waft outside off stump—that was about the extent of the difficulties the English batsmen faced on the final morning.