In what was a perfect exponent for Test cricket, the 3rd Test match between India and England at the prestigious Lord’s Cricket Stadium, went right down to the wire. This was a Test match that helped in spreading the word about the beauty of Test cricket and the several ebbs and flows associated with it.
Both the teams fought extremely hard and eventually it was the hosts who scampered through the winning line. At the end of Day 4, India needed 135 runs to win and England needed 6 wickets to win.
This was in response to England’s score of 192 runs. India needed 193 runs to win and the hosts were breathing fire with the red-ball in the last 30 mins of Day 4. England bagged 3 quick wickets and were in pole position to win the game.
India’s night-watchman punt of sending Akash Deep ahead of Rishabh Pant in the dying minutes of Day 4 backfired as he was cleaned up by Ben Stokes at the stroke of Stumps.
England bagged 3 quick wickets in the 1st session
Coming high on confidence on Day 5, Ben Stokes and co. didn’t waste time to open proceedings. Jofra Archer sent Rishabh’s timber flying and Ben Stokes trapped KL Rahul, LBW.
Washington Sundar was sent home packing by Jofra Archer and India were in all sorts of trouble.
But much to the surprise of everyone, India’s lower-order proved to be quite stiff in their resistance. Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy forged a solid partnership of 30 runs but Reddy poked one delivery off Chris Woakes, just ahead of Lunch.
Jasprit Bumrah and Jadeja were batting well and they put up a 31-run partnership before a lapse in concentration sent Bumrah back home.
The deficit reduced to 23 runs and it felt that India could somehow manage to win the game. But Shoaib Bashir, who was bowling with a broken finger on his non-bowling hand, sent Mohammad Siraj, home with an exceptional delivery.
