Chris Woakes backs England to pull off miracle run chase against India

The hosts are chasing a record 368 target on final day at The Oval

England bowler Chris Woakes successfully appeals for the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane for a duck. Getty

India's Rishabh Pant of India smashes a boundary off the bowling of Moeen Ali . Getty

India captain Virat Kohli during his knock of 44. Getty

Chris Woakes celebrates with Joe Root after dismissing Ravindra Jadeja for 17. Getty

India captain Virat Kohli leaves the field after being dismissed by Moeen Ali of England. Getty

Rishabh Pant of India makes his ground during Day 4. Getty

England spinner Moeen Ali celebrates after taking the wicket of Virat Kohli. Getty

India's Shardul Thakur plays a shot at The Oval. AFP

England captain Joe Root, centre, celebrates taking the wicket of India's Shardul Thakur for 60. AP

India's Jasprit Bumrah hits the ball straight to Moeen Ali and is out for 24. Getty

Openers Haseeb Hameed and Rory Burns were unbeaten at the close as England reached 77 without loss at the end of Day 4, chasing 368 for an unlikely win. Getty

Chris Woakes is backing England to pull off a record run chase on what promises to be a dramatic final day in the fourth Test against India at The Oval.

Fifties from Rishabh Pant and Shardul Thakur took India to a second-innings total of 466 and set England a daunting target of 368.

But openers Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed held firm in to leave England on 77-0 at stumps, with the hosts needing a further 291 runs for an unlikely win and a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

England's highest fourth-innings winning total was the Ben Stokes-inspired 362-9 against Australia at Headingley in 2019, with their highest victorious chase at The Oval the 263-9 they made against Australia in 1902.

But Woakes said England can draw on their monumental 2019 Ashes win and last year's successful chase of 277 against Pakistan - in which he scored a decisive unbeaten 84 - for inspiration.

"This team has done special things over the last few years. We've got the belief we can go and get the win," Woakes said.

"A lot of hard work still needs to be done. You can draw on those experiences, looking at what we are capable of. It's about belief.

"Everyone will agree that we can go and get the runs - there will be no doubts about that.

“Joe Root will speak as captain, Spoons (Chris Silverwood) will speak as coach, but I think everyone will be in agreement about the fact that we can go on and get the runs."

After 13 wickets fell on an eventful first day, both teams have since found wickets harder to come by.

England's attack grew weary as India's lower order plundered boundaries, with Thakur bludgeoning seven fours and a six during his 72-ball 60 to add to his first-innings 57.

But Woakes, who took 3-83 in India's second innings after making 50 in England's first-innings total of 290, believes The Oval pitch is better than the Old Trafford surface on which England chased 277 against Pakistan last year.

And after more than a year away from Test cricket due to injury and Covid quarantines, he is relishing the prospect of a tense final day.

"I've been desperate to be a part of the series. It's been exciting, a great comeback into Test cricket," he said.

"The atmosphere will be great and that's where you want to be as a player."

Meanwhile India batting coach Vikram Rathour hailed Thakur following the all-rounder's third fifty in four Tests.

"He's somebody who works really hard on his batting, and I think his biggest asset is his temperament," Rathour said.

"Very impressive, he's already played three very important innings in a short span. He can play a big role in Indian cricket in the coming times."