A rain-affected fifth day at Lord’s, England held their nerve to beat India by just 22 runs in the third Test, moving 2–1 ahead in the five-match series. Despite a gritty 61 from all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and dogged contributions from the tail, India fell agonisingly short, finishing on 170 in pursuit of a 193-run target.
Jadeja’s defiance falls just short
Resuming the day at 163/9, India needed 30 more runs with Jadeja and Mohammed Siraj at the crease. The veteran left-hander, on his fourth consecutive Test fifty, and the fast bowler batted out 84 balls together, chipping away at England’s lead. But in the 34th over of the chase, Shoaib Bashir’s off-spinner turned sharply to uproot Siraj’s middle stump. A few balls later, Jadeja was bowled by Ben Stokes (3/48), sparking jubilant scenes in the home dressing room.
England’s bowlers star early
India’s chase unravelled in the second session as England’s pace battery struck. Jofra Archer (3/55) removed Rishabh Pant (9) and Washington Sundar (0) inside seven overs, while Stokes accounted for KL Rahul (39) with a perfectly judged leg-stump nip-backer. By tea India were in peril at 82/7, still needing 111 runs.
Jadeja and Reddy revive hope
A brief 30-run partnership between Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy (13) took India past 100, but Chris Woakes trapped Reddy lbw for the third time in the match. The hosts then wrapped up the tail cheaply, leaving Jadeja stranded on 61—the highest score of the innings—and India all out for 170.
India fights back earlier, but can’t capitalise
England’s second innings had posted a modest 192, thanks to lower-order resistance: Joe Root (40) and Ben Stokes (33) added 67 for the fifth wicket after India had reduced England to 87/4. Washington Sundar’s four-wicket burst (4/22) and Jasprit Bumrah’s searing spell (2/38) had England reeling, but Brydon Carse (2/30) and Bashir ensured India never got too far ahead.
In their first dig, England had racked up 387, led by Joe Root’s second-innings counter-attack (40) and support from Jamie Smith (51) and Brydon Carse (56). Bumrah’s five-wicket haul (5/74) kept India competitive, matching England’s 387 in reply.
Series now in England’s favour
After three matches, England lead 2–1 heading to Manchester for the fourth Test beginning July 24. India’s resilience—and Jadeja’s heroics—will hearten the visitors, but England’s all-round bowling depth and crucial breakthroughs under pressure proved decisive at Lord’s.
Key figures
- England first innings: 387 (Joe Root 40; Jasprit Bumrah 5/74)
- India first innings: 387 (KL Rahul 100; Root 3/84)
- England second innings: 192 (Carse 56; Sundar 4/22)
- India second innings: 170 (Ravindra Jadeja 61; Ben Stokes 3/48)
England’s narrow victory underscores the fine margins at Test level—and sets up a tantalising title race deep into the summer.
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