England's hopes of securing a series victory against India suffered a significant setback on the third day of the fifth Test at The Oval, with a late dismissal of opener Zak Crawley leaving them at 50/1 in pursuit of a challenging target of 374.

India's second innings closed on 396, setting England a formidable target. Yashasvi Jaiswal's century (118), coupled with crucial fifties from Akash Deep (53), Ravindra Jadeja (53), and Washington Sundar (53), propelled India to a commanding position. Josh Tongue was the pick of the bowlers for England, claiming 5 wickets.

England's chase began aggressively, reminiscent of their "Bazball" approach, with Crawley and Ben Duckett putting on a quickfire 50-run partnership. However, just as they seemed to be gaining momentum, Mohammed Siraj delivered a crucial blow, dismissing Crawley with a searing yorker that rattled his stumps. Crawley departed for 14, leaving Duckett unbeaten on 34 at the close of play.

The dismissal in the final over of the day was a significant blow, both tactically and psychologically. England now need to score 324 runs on the fourth day with nine wickets in hand to win the match and series. The pitch is proving to be testing, with variable bounce, and is expected to deteriorate, favoring the Indian bowlers as the game progresses.

Earlier in the day, India's innings was characterized by resilient batting. Jaiswal's century was the cornerstone, but valuable contributions from the middle and lower order extended their lead. Akash Deep, in particular, impressed with a maiden Test fifty, adding 66 runs and sharing a 107-run partnership with Jaiswal. Jadeja also continued his impressive form in the series, reaching his half-century.

England's bowlers toiled hard, with Tongue leading the attack, but they were hampered by the absence of Chris Woakes due to injury and missed chances in the field. Several catches were dropped, including Akash Deep early in his innings, which proved costly.

The match is intriguingly poised. If England successfully chase down the target of 374, it will be the highest successful run chase at The Oval in Test cricket, surpassing the record that has stood since 1902. However, they will have to overcome the mental hurdle of Crawley's late dismissal and contend with the deteriorating pitch. India, on the other hand, will be buoyed by Siraj's late strike and confident in their bowling attack's ability to exploit the conditions.

The highest successful Test run-chases in England are: * Australia beat England (404) in 1948 * England beat India (378) in 2022 * England beat India (371) earlier in this series in Leeds

The final day promises a thrilling contest, with both teams vying for a momentous series victory.