England had moved to within 35 runs of securing a famous victory over India when bad light and torrential rain ended an extraordinary fourth day of the final Test at The Oval on Sunday.

Harry Brook and Joe Root shared a superb fourth-wicket partnership of 195 to put England on the brink of completing a record run chase that would have given them a 3-1 series win.

With India on the ropes, however, and England needing just another 73 runs, Brook played a wild stroke and skied a catch to depart for 111.

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That gave India a glimmer of hope and they made the most of it. Jacob Bethell also fell to a rash shot for five and Root, having completed a masterful 39th Test century, nicked a catch to wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel off Prasidh Krishna to spark wild Indian celebrations.

In mounting tension, Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton struggled to get bat on ball, surviving several frenzied appeals before the umpires decided it was too dark to continue.

The players left the field and shortly afterwards a heavy rain shower made conditions unplayable, depriving the crowd of a tense finale to a day of unremitting drama.

The sun shone again after The Oval was emptied, sparking questions about the process to call stumps.

“Still 20 mins away from possible start time, everyone has their sunglasses on at the train station,” England great Stuart Broad, who has joined Channel 7’s commentary team for the Ashes this summer, said.

“Felt the supporters deserved to see a finish to that Test Match today. Felt a lazy decision to call it off at 6pm in my opinion. I wonder who makes it?”

Harsha Bhogle wrote: “I am glad there are people other than me asking why the covers couldn’t have come off in time to allow us to witness an extraordinary climax. Now we come back tomorrow but the heavy roller can be used and that can be a game-changer.”

Responding to criticism that he was starting a conspiracy theory, he replied: “No, not at all. All I wanted to say was that we had 45 mins and in many parts of the world, they run a super sopper and try and get the covers off as quickly as possible. It might still have not been possible but I would have liked to see some effort made.”

But in the end a wonderful series — all five Tests have now gone into a fifth day — will receive a nerve-racking denouement.

England will resume on 6-339 on Monday, with bowler Chris Woakes unlikely to bat due to a dislocated shoulder, and India still in with a chance of a victory that would level a gripping five-match series.

Woakes could be seen kitted up and with his arm in a sling, though, and could conceivably find himself at the crease on Monday, though presumably only at the non-striker’s end.

India had the better of the morning session after England resumed on 1-50, dismissing Ben Duckett for 54 and Ollie Pope for 27 to leave the hosts wobbling on 3-106.

Brook, on 19, was lucky to survive when Mohammed Siraj caught him in the deep before stepping back on to the boundary cushion.

The prolific right-hander made him pay a heavy price for the error, striking two sixes and 12 fours all round the ground to reach his 10th Test century off 91 balls.

Root provided the perfect foil, continuing his consistent form throughout the series, as the Indian bowlers struggled to get much movement under grey skies.

Once past three figures, Brook launched an all-out attack, hitting Akash Deep for two fours in an over before attempting a third and Siraj completed the catch on this occasion.

Brook’s bat flew out of his hands as he played the stroke and he had to retrieve it before returning to the pavilion to a standing ovation from the crowd.

He probably believed he had done enough to ensure victory for his team but India had other ideas.

The highest successful run chase at The Oval was England’s 9-263 against Australia in 1902.