England chase down big total to draw 5-Test series with India

SCORECARD | England v India, 5th Test

Set 378 to win, England finished on 378-3, with former captain Root 142 not out and Bairstow 114 not out - his second hundred of the match after he made 106 in the hosts' first-innings 284.

Victory saw England level this five-match series at 2-2. 

No England side had previously made more to win in the fourth innings of a Test than 359, when now captain Ben Stokes' brilliant century led them to a thrilling victory over Australia at Headingley three years ago. 

But that record was overhauled with ease after England's first series under a new leadership duo of Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum had seen them chase down seemingly stiff targets of 277, 299 and 296 during a 3-0 whitewash of Test world champions New Zealand.

England resumed on 259-3, needing just 119 more runs to win.

Root was 76 not out overnight and Bairstow unbeaten on 72 after the Yorkshire duo had come together at 109-3, with England having lost three wickets in quick succession either side of tea.

But their unbroken stand, built on largely orthodox if hard-hit strokeplay, was eventually worth 269, with England averaging nearly five an over as they reached their target inside 77 overs.

Bairstow was quickly into his stride Tuesday, cover-driving a four off Mohammed Shami before striking another resounding boundary down to long-on off Jasprit Bumrah, captaining India in place of the Covid-hit Rohit Sharma. 

Both strokes were cheered on their way to the rope by a crowd who, as was the case on the last day of England's wins over New Zealand at Headingley and Trent Bridge, had been let in for free.

And there were more roars of appreciation as Root, the world's top-ranked Test batsman, cover-drove Shami for four in typically stylish