Chris Woakes is backing England to pull off a record run chase on what promises to be a dramatic final day in the fourth Test against India at The Oval.
Fifties from Rishabh Pant and Shardul Thakur took India to a second-innings total of 466 and set England a daunting target of 368.
But openers Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed held firm in to leave England on 77-0 at stumps, with the hosts needing a further 291 runs for an unlikely win and a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
England's highest fourth-innings winning total was the Ben Stokes-inspired 362-9 against Australia at Headingley in 2019, with their highest victorious chase at The Oval the 263-9 they made against Australia in 1902.
But Woakes said England can draw on their monumental 2019 Ashes win and last year's successful chase of 277 against Pakistan - in which he scored a decisive unbeaten 84 - for inspiration.
"This team has done special things over the last few years. We've got the belief we can go and get the win," Woakes said.
"A lot of hard work still needs to be done. You can draw on those experiences, looking at what we are capable of. It's about belief.
"Everyone will agree that we can go and get the runs - there will be no doubts about that.
“Joe Root will speak as captain, Spoons (Chris Silverwood) will speak as coach, but I think everyone will be in agreement about the fact that we can go on and get the runs."
After 13 wickets fell on an eventful first day, both teams have since found wickets harder to come by.
England's attack grew weary as India's lower order plundered boundaries, with Thakur bludgeoning seven fours and a six during his 72-ball 60 to add to his first-innings 57.
But Woakes, who took 3-83 in India's second innings after making 50 in England's first-innings total of 290, believes The Oval pitch is better than the Old Trafford surface on which England chased 277 against Pakistan last year.
And after more than a year away from Test cricket due to injury and Covid quarantines, he is relishing the prospect of a tense final day.
"I've been desperate to be a part of the series. It's been exciting, a great comeback into Test cricket," he said.
"The atmosphere will be great and that's where you want to be as a player."
Meanwhile India batting coach Vikram Rathour hailed Thakur following the all-rounder's third fifty in four Tests.
"He's somebody who works really hard on his batting, and I think his biggest asset is his temperament," Rathour said.
"Very impressive, he's already played three very important innings in a short span. He can play a big role in Indian cricket in the coming times."
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Company info
Company name: Entrupy
Co-founders: Vidyuth Srinivasan, co-founder/chief executive, Ashlesh Sharma, co-founder/chief technology officer, Lakshmi Subramanian, co-founder/chief scientist
Based: New York, New York
Sector/About: Entrupy is a hardware-enabled SaaS company whose mission is to protect businesses, borders and consumers from transactions involving counterfeit goods.
Initial investment/Investors: Entrupy secured a $2.6m Series A funding round in 2017. The round was led by Tokyo-based Digital Garage and Daiwa Securities Group's jointly established venture arm, DG Lab Fund I Investment Limited Partnership, along with Zach Coelius.
Total customers: Entrupy’s customers include hundreds of secondary resellers, marketplaces and other retail organisations around the world. They are also testing with shipping companies as well as customs agencies to stop fake items from reaching the market in the first place.
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
ODI FIXTURE SCHEDULE
First ODI, October 22
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Second ODI, October 25
Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune
Third ODI, October 29
Venue TBC
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Banthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations
Edited by Sarah Cleave, Comma Press
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 2 (Mahrez 04', Ake 84')
Leicester City 5 (Vardy 37' pen, 54', 58' pen, Maddison 77', Tielemans 88' pen)
Man of the match: Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
More from Neighbourhood Watch
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Brief scores
Barcelona 2
Pique 36', Alena 87'
Villarreal 0
Sam Smith
Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi
When: Saturday November 24
Rating: 4/5
