'70 in first session, 90 in second and 130 in last' - Shane Warne lays out blueprint for England to clinch The Oval Test

Former Australia spinner Shane Warne feels all three results are possible going into the final day of the Oval Test. England went 77/0 at the end of Day 4, with openers Haseeb Hameed and Rory Burns looking increasingly comfortable against all of the Indian bowlers, apart from spinner Ravindra Jadeja.

The hosts have been set a 368-run target in the fourth Test after they managed to take a 99-run lead in the first innings. India, who were bowled out for just 191 runs after being inserted to bat, showed a brilliant fight in the second innings, as they notched up 466 runs on the back of Rohit Sharma’s first overseas ton (127) alongside half-centuries from Cheteshwar Pujara (61), Shardul Thakur (60) and Rishabh Pant (50).

Continuing with the trend of adding crucial runs towards the end, the Indian tail also made healthy contributions as Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav swung their bats hard to score quick twenties, ensuring to take India’s lead beyond 350.

Meanwhile, going into the final and decisive day, Warne reckoned that the fixture can go in either team’s way, while he also suggested England a potential framework to end victoriously. “All 3 results alive at the oval today. If I was Eng this is how I would go about it. 1st session risk-free cricket & aim for 70 runs(bonus anymore).2nd a bit more aggressive 90 runs & last session when bowlers tiring & wickets in hand 130 runs or can India take 10 wkts or a draw,” Warne wrote on Twitter.

All 3 results alive at the oval today. If I was Eng this is how I would go about it. 1st session risk free cricket & aim for 70 runs(bonus anymore).2nd a bit more aggressive 90 runs & last session when bowlers tiring & wickets in hand 130 runs or can India take 10 wkts or a draw

— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) September 6, 2021

291 on a day-five pitch always sounds tough, but the pitch is still good: Chris Woakes

England all-rounder Chris Woakes backed his team to chase the target on the final day, as he suggested that the surface at The Oval is “still good for batting”.

“We felt like it was a good enough wicket to be able to chase any score. To go all the way and chase down that score would be an incredible effort. It would be a great, great chase. But our openers have done a great job and put us in a good position to start on the final day,” said Woakes during a virtual press conference.

“To get another 291 on a day-five pitch always sounds like a tough task but we’ve got to keep reminding ourselves that this pitch is still good for batting and we can do it if we bat well all the way down. We just have to tick it off slowly. We won’t get too far ahead of ourselves.”