Washington Sundar’s four-wicket haul and the collective force of the pacers helped India restrict England to 192 in the second innings of the Lord’s Test. Introduced later in the afternoon session, the canny off-spinner dealt significant blows as he finished with career-best overseas returns of 4/22. India, however, began on a poor note in their manageable chase of 193, with Brydon Carse inflicting much of the damage as the visitors went into Stumps at 58/4 with the in-form KL Rahul unbeaten on 33.
Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer troubled the Indian openers on a pitch possessing the demon of variable bounce. Yashasvi Jaiswal perished for a duck while attempting to pull an Archer delivery that rose menacingly. Rahul had his fair share of probation, even offering a return catch at one point that Woakes couldn’t quite hold on to. Under the cosh, Rahul still capitalized on scoring opportunities to make sure India ate into the target. Meanwhile, the resurgent Karun Nair cover drove Archer as the second-wicket pair seemed to be steadying steadied India after a wobbly beginning to their pursuit.
Ben Stokes introduced himself into the attack as first change while at the other end, Carse was getting the ball to dance to his tunes. Nair played and missed outside off to an away-decker before making the ill-fated decision to shoulder arms to a delivery that jagged in and was trapped in front for 15. Shubman Gill had an anxious start to his innings, with tension gripping the air as the England fielders tried to get under his skin, a return of favour for his verbal volleys to Zac Crawley the previous day.
In Carse’s next over, Gill got a caught-behind decision reversed with the use of DRS and then dispatched a full toss for four. However, he took a review along with him when he was adjudged plumb for 6, courtesy a Carse nip-backer. Umpire’s call saved nightwatchman Akash Deep once and the theatrics kicked up a notch when the lower-order batter summoned the physio to tend to some strapping. Much to India’s chagrin, the absorbing day’s play ended with Stokes cleaning up Akash as England retaliated ferociously after folding under 200.
Earlier, in the morning session, Crawley endured a painful blow on the knuckles from a Jasprit Bumrah lifter that nearly created a caught-and-bowled opportunity. Short on runs, the lanky opener lived dangerously, slicing Bumrah past gully for four and looking increasingly iffy as he dealt with the uneven bounce from the Nursery End. Duckett, in contrast, was at ease – even ramping Siraj for a boundary – but the wholehearted character had the last laugh when the southpaw spliced a pull to mid-on.
Bumrah and Siraj sustained the heat, and the latter outclassed Ollie Pope with an inducker, with India successfully reviewing. Nitish Reddy, who replaced Bumrah, was pulled for four by Crawley before fighting redemption in his next over by having him caught at gully, where Jaiswal took his first catch of the series. Root and Harry Brook then joined forces, handling Nitish and Akash with consummate ease. Root played a delectable square drive, while Brook hit a couple of scoops and hoisted Akash for a six down the ground. He also put away Reddy for four before Akash, having received treatment for his back, managed to castle Brook for 23, clipping a short but promising stand. Heading into Lunch, England were 98/4.
India require 193 to win the third Test at Lord's 🎯 pic.twitter.com/TuT8oKVtOL
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 13, 2025
Bumrah and Siraj continued to be the potent force they are on the other side of the break but despite the unrelenting pressure, Root and Ben Stokes brought their experience to the fore to keep the scoreboard ticking. Shubman Gill threw the ball to Washington Sundar at this delicate juncture, and the skilled operator provided the breakthrough. Shaping up for a fine sweep, Root was knocked over as he missed the ball altogether. The off-spinner then bowled Jamie Smith, who was done in by the gorgeous away-drift. Stokes and Woakes saw England through to Tea at 174 for 6, with only 77 runs gathered in 27 overs during the session.
The Indian captain missed an opportunity to run his England counterpart out at the non-striker’s end in the final session but it didn’t cost the visitors dearly as Stokes, after sweeping Sundar for a not-so-convincing four, lost his stumps for 33 chasing an encore. Bumrah then produced an inch-perfect yorker to remove Carse, claiming his first wicket of the innings. He appeared to be struggling with his calf, but there were no ominous signs considering he ran in and dislodged the furniture of Woakes. The injured Shoaib Bashir walked out to bat and along with Archer, kept India at bay for a while before falling prey to Washington, who was the pick of the Indian bowlers.
Brief Scores: England 387 & 192 (Joe Root 40, Ben Stokes 33; Washington Sundar 4-22, Mohammed Siraj 2-31, Jasprit Bumrah 2-34) lead India 387 & 58/4 (KL Rahul 33*; Brydon Carse 2-11, Ben Stokes 1-15) by 134 runs.
