London, July 14: In a pulsating finish to the third Test at Lord’s, England held their nerve to secure a dramatic 22-run victory over India, despite a valiant unbeaten knock from Ravindra Jadeja. With the win, England now lead the five-match series 2-1, heading into the fourth Test at Old Trafford.
Chasing a modest target of 193 on a wearing fifth-day pitch, India faltered in their pursuit, eventually being bowled out for 170 in 74.5 overs.
Jadeja’s gritty 61* kept Indian hopes alive deep into the final session, but a lack of support from the other end proved costly as the hosts closed out the match.
Final Day Drama
The day began with India needing 135 runs with six wickets in hand, while England required six scalps to take the lead in the series. It was the home side who seized the early initiative, striking four times before lunch to put India on the back foot.
Jofra Archer, leading the English attack, set the tone early. He produced a peach of a delivery to dismiss Rishabh Pant, who was bowled for just 9.
The ball landed on a good length and straightened just enough to beat the bat and send the off stump flying.
England skipper Ben Stokes then stepped up with a captain’s performance, trapping KL Rahul in front for 39.
Although the on-field umpire initially turned down the appeal, a successful review overturned the decision, giving England another breakthrough at a crucial juncture.
The momentum stayed firmly with the hosts when Archer returned to remove Nitish Reddy and Washington Sundar in quick succession. He pulled off a sharp return catch to dismiss Reddy and followed it up by drawing an edge from Sundar, which was safely pouched by the wicketkeeper.
At 121/8, India were staring at defeat, but Jadeja stood firm at one end. Combining resilience with composure, the all-rounder kept the scoreboard ticking and found occasional boundaries to bring India within striking distance.
His battle against the England bowlers, especially the fiery Archer and the ever-determined Stokes, was one of immense character and skill.
However, the lack of resistance from the tail made it a bridge too far.
The English bowlers, particularly Archer (3/55) and Stokes (3/48), remained relentless in their attack, and finally closed out the match in the final session of Day Five.
Match Summary
The third Test had been a rollercoaster ride from the start. Both teams posted identical scores of 387 in their respective first innings, setting the stage for a tense second half of the match. England’s second innings total of 192 set India a tricky target under pressure-filled conditions on a deteriorating surface.
Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer were deservedly the heroes for England, not just for their wicket-taking prowess but also for delivering when the team needed them the most.
For India, Jadeja’s fighting half-century was the lone highlight in an otherwise disappointing final innings.
The narrow defeat at Lord’s will undoubtedly sting for India, who were within touching distance of pulling off a memorable chase. (PTI)
