England have won the much talked about Test series against India by a convincing 4-1 score-line at the Oval . The fifth Test win was perfect fare well for England legend and former skipper Alastair Cook as he retired from International cricket on a high. A series win and a hundred on his final test as well on his debut Test , Cook could not hoped for better end to his glorious career.

Chasing an improbable 464 to win India were staring defeat on the fourth day when it was reduced to 2 for 3 . With Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara and skipper Virat kohli , a rare failure back in the dressing room. But a century run stand by K L Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane ( 37) took India to 120 for 4. First innings debutant Hanuma Vihari did not trouble the scores in the second innings .

But a scintillating 204 run partnership between K L Rahul ( 142 ) and wicket- keeper Rishabh Pant ( 114) raised hopes for an unlikely victory or a draw but that unfortunately went in vain. K L Rahul scored his fifth ton and fourth overseas. Pant on the other hand became the first Indian wicket-keeper to score a ton in England.

But handling world class England bowlers James Anderson , Stuart Broad in swinging conditions was not easy. After Rahul – Pant heroics, the batting collapsed from 325 for 5 to 345 all -out. Handling England a 118 run win. Anderson went past Aussie great Glenn McGrath in the all time wicket taker list among fast bowlers with his 564 scalp. he took the final India wicket of Mohammed Shami Clean Bowled.

The bottom line is England played better in the crunch situations and India on the other hand missed some opportunities and that proved costly at the end .