There was a 77-run seventh-wicket partnership between Ravindra Jadeja and Hanuma Vihari, both making their first appearances in the five-match series. Vihari's first Test innings ended on 56. Alastair Cook was unbeaten on 46 in his final Test innings as England reached 114-2 at stumps on day three for a 154-run lead over India in the fifth Test.
Cook - England's leading run-scorer who will retire from Test cricket at the end of his 161st match - came through a shaky start to maintain his hopes of a farewell century at the Oval. He scored 71 in England's first innings of 332. It was the struggling Keaton Jennings who gave India a breakthrough, out for 10 after leaving Mohammed Shami's delivery which swung in to find the top of middle stump.
England had earlier secured a 40-run first-innings lead by dismissing India for 292. Ravindra Jadeja prevented a far bigger lead with 86 not out after India resumed on 174-6.