London: KL Rahul's elegant century and Ravindra Jadeja’s gritty 72 ensured India matched England’s first-innings total of 387 on a dramatic third day of the second Test at Lord’s.
The day ended with tempers flaring, a brief yet tense mini-session, and both teams staring at a high-stakes finish to this enthralling contest.
Resuming the morning at 145 for 3, India’s day began with poise as Rahul and Rishabh Pant weathered early pressure with a mix of patience and calculated aggression. Despite nursing an injured finger, Pant defied England’s short-ball barrage, stroking his way to a fluent 74 off 98 balls, including eight boundaries and two sixes.
The duo stitched together a vital 141-run fourth-wicket stand, restoring balance after the overnight wobble.
Just as Pant looked set for a big score, a lapse in communication led to his dismissal in the final over before lunch — a direct hit from Ben Stokes at cover catching him short. India went into the break at 248 for 4 in 65.3 overs, with Rahul unbeaten on 98.
Shortly after the interval, Rahul reached his second century at Lord’s with a neat flick off the pads, but his joy was short-lived. On exactly 100, he nicked off-spinner Shoaib Bashir to slip. That breakthrough gave England a way back, but India’s lower order fought hard to ensure parity.
Jadeja, continuing his superb form in the series, was India’s linchpin in the post-lunch and post-tea sessions. He reached his third successive fifty of the series with a composed drive off Joe Root and stitched a crucial 72-run stand with Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Reddy looked solid during his 91-ball 30 before being undone by a sharp bouncer from Ben Stokes in the 95th over.
Jadeja then partnered Washington Sundar to take India past 350. He played with flair, smashing Root and Brydon Carse for boundaries and clearing mid-off with a majestic six. Just as he seemed set for a century, a faint tickle down the leg side ended his resistance on 77 caught behind off Woakes, leaving India at 376 for 7.
The tail offered resistance Akash Deep struck a six off Jofra Archer and survived two LBW reviews, but eventually succumbed. Harry Brook’s stunning diving catch ended Akash Deep's cameo, while Bumrah fell for a duck. Sundar, who scored a vital 23 off 76 balls, holed out off Archer, leaving India all out for 387 in 119.2 overs, perfectly mirroring England’s score.
But Day 3 had one final twist. England were forced to face an over before stumps, and the tension soared.
Zak Crawley opened with two runs off Bumrah’s second ball, but was then struck on the glove by a brutal lifter that summoned the physio. Indian players, annoyed by Crawley’s extended gardening and delays, responded with sarcastic applause. A verbal exchange followed, with Shubman Gill in the thick of it, raising tempers but stopping just short of boiling over.
Crawley and Ben Duckett saw out the over, with England finishing at 2 for no loss — level with India on first innings, but with all results still in play.
As clouds continue to hover over Lord’s and tempers simmer beneath the surface, Day 4 promises more than just cricket, it promises drama, intensity, and perhaps, a match-turning moment at the Home of Cricket.
Brief scores: At Day 4 stumps - England 387 & 2/0 in 1 over; India 387 all out in 119.2 overs (KL Rahul 100, Jadeja 72; Woakes 3/84, Archer 2/52).
