Image Credit: BCCI
England Defeat India By 22 Runs At Lord’s
England defeated India by 22 runs in a closely fought third Test match at Lord’s, taking a 2–1 lead in the five-match series. The match ended on Day 5, with India falling short while chasing a target of 193 runs.
Jadeja Leads Resistance
India’s hopes were kept alive by Ravindra Jadeja, who remained unbeaten on 61. He added crucial runs with the tail-enders, especially Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, to take India from a hopeless position at 112/8 to within 23 runs of victory. However, the final breakthrough came when Shoaib Bashir trapped Siraj lbw, ending India’s innings at 170.
Stokes And Archer Shine
Ben Stokes played a pivotal role with both bat and ball, earning the Player of the Match award. His three wickets, combined with Jofra Archer’s fiery spells and Brydon Carse’s support, kept constant pressure on the Indian batting line-up. Stokes also contributed valuable runs in England’s second innings.
Top Order Collapse Hurts India
India’s top order failed to fire under pressure. Early dismissals of Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Kumar Reddy left the team struggling. Despite Jadeja’s fightback, the lack of a stable middle-order partnership proved costly.
What’s Next
With the series now tilted 2–1 in England’s favour, the fourth Test will begin at Old Trafford on July 23. India will look to bounce back and level the series, while England will aim to clinch an early series win.
