Cricket | England seal 22-run win over India
England win by 22 runs and lead series 2-1
England 387 (Root 104, Carse 56, Smith 51; Bumrah 5-74) & 192 (Root 40; Sundar 4-22)
India 387 (Rahul 100, Pant 74, Jadeja 72; Woakes 3-84) & 170 (Jadeja 61*; Stokes 3-48, Archer 3-55)
Ben Stokes once again proved England’s heartbeat as they edged a gripping third Test at Lord’s, beating India by 22 runs on a nerve-shredding final day.
The England captain delivered a tireless spell with the ball, taking three wickets as India were bowled out for 170 in their pursuit of 193. What had looked a straightforward finish unravelled into a tense stand-off, with Ravindra Jadeja leading a defiant rearguard.
India had collapsed to 112 for eight when Jadeja was joined by Jasprit Bumrah. The pair held firm for almost 22 overs in a gritty partnership worth 35 runs, with Bumrah scoring just five from 54 balls. Eventually, Stokes lured him into a mistimed pull that was safely taken at mid-on.
Even then, Jadeja was unshaken. He found further resistance in last man Mohammed Siraj and continued to chip away at the target. Tea was delayed with India needing 30 more to win. On the resumption, Shoaib Bashir was thrown the ball despite an injury to his non-bowling hand. He found the decisive moment, drawing Siraj into a defensive prod that bounced off the pitch and onto his stumps. Bashir wheeled away in a frenzied celebration, possibly his final contribution of the series with his injury likely to rule him out of the remaining Tests. Jadeja was left unbeaten on 61 from 181 deliveries.
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The slow-burn tension of the afternoon was in stark contrast to the chaos of the morning session, where Stokes and Jofra Archer tore into India’s top order with ferocious pace. Archer uprooted Rishabh Pant’s off stump with a thunderbolt. Stokes trapped KL Rahul lbw on review for 39. Washington Sundar, who had boldly declared on Sunday evening that India would win, was brilliantly caught by Archer in his follow-through.
Jadeja began his long stand with Nitish Kumar Reddy and later built the resistance with Bumrah. There was even a flashpoint when he collided mid-run with Brydon Carse, leading to an exchange between the two. England thought they had Jadeja when Chris Woakes hit his pads, but the decision was overturned on review.
It was Stokes who once again carried the burden. After bowling nine overs in the morning, he returned for another ten up to the break. The final wicket may have belonged to Bashir, but this was a win crafted by Stokes’ sheer will and stamina.
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