India matches England’s first innings score of 387 in gripping third-day Test action at Lord’s, with standout performances from KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja; England end Day 3 at 2/0 with a slender lead.
London [UK], July 13:
A sublime century by KL Rahul and a gritty 72 by Ravindra Jadeja helped India level England’s first innings total of 387 on the third day of the second Test at Lord’s. The two teams are now locked evenly as England ended the day at 2/0, holding a marginal two-run lead going into Day 4.
Resuming from 316/5 in the final session, India looked to erase the 71-run deficit. Jadeja, unbeaten on 40, and Nitish Kumar Reddy on 25, showed resilience before England broke through. Reddy was dismissed after a patient 30 off 91 balls, ending a valuable 72-run stand with Jadeja.
Jadeja continued his determined innings and reached his fifty with a boundary off Joe Root. Washington Sundar supported him with a composed knock, helping India breach the 350-run mark. However, Jadeja eventually fell for 72 (131 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) in the 114th over, edging India closer to parity.
India’s lower order faltered slightly, with Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah falling cheaply. Sundar scored 23 off 76, including a four and a six, before being the last man out. India were bowled out for 387, matching England’s total, creating a rare score-level scenario at Lord’s.
England’s bowling was led by Chris Woakes, who claimed 3/84 in 27 overs. Jofra Archer (2/52), Ben Stokes (2/63), and one wicket each for Brydon Carse and Shoaib Bashir, rounded off the bowling efforts.
Earlier, KL Rahul’s century stole the spotlight. He reached his ton with a single to wide mid-off, raising his arms in jubilation at the iconic venue. His innings of 100 off 177 balls was marked by patience and poise. But his joy was short-lived, as he was dismissed in the very next over while attempting an expansive drive off Shoaib Bashir.
India’s innings wobbled slightly after Rahul’s dismissal. A mix-up between Jadeja and Reddy almost cost them dearly. Despite repeated communication lapses, Reddy survived multiple run-out scares due to missed throws by Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett.
Adding to England’s woes, spinner Bashir sustained a finger injury after Jadeja struck a powerful drive that hit his hand. He left the field for treatment, and Joe Root finished the over. England immediately opted for the second new ball, trying to break the partnership between Jadeja and Reddy, but the Indian pair resisted skillfully.
Earlier in the day, India resumed with KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant at the crease. Rahul played some exquisite strokes, notably smashing three successive boundaries off Brydon Carse. The Rahul-Pant partnership added 100 runs, with Pant bringing up his fifty in style with a six off Stokes.
Pant was eventually run out for 74 off 112 balls (8 fours, 2 sixes), thanks to a brilliant direct hit from Ben Stokes just before lunch.
England’s first innings score of 387 had been built on Joe Root’s 104, Ollie Pope’s 44, and lower-order fireworks from Brydon Carse and Jamie Smith, who both struck half-centuries.
India’s bowling was spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah, who took 5/74 in 27 overs. Mohammed Siraj (2/85) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (2/62) supported well, with Ravindra Jadeja (1/29) adding a crucial wicket.
At stumps on Day 3, England were 2/0 in their second innings, with Zak Crawley (2)* and Ben Duckett (0)* at the crease. With two full days remaining, the match is finely poised as both teams look to seize control.
Brief Scores:
England: 387 & 2/0 (Zak Crawley 2*, Ben Duckett 0*; Jasprit Bumrah 0/2)
India: 387 (KL Rahul 100, Rishabh Pant 74, Ravindra Jadeja 72; Chris Woakes 3/84, Jofra Archer 2/52)