Jadeja’s Grit, Tail’s Defiance in Vain as India Fall Short in Lord’s Thriller
LONDON: Ravindra Jadeja’s resolute unbeaten 61 and spirited support from India’s lower order nearly pulled off a miraculous comeback, but England held their nerve to win a dramatic third Test by 22 runs on Monday, taking a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
Chasing a modest 193 on a deteriorating Day 5 pitch, India collapsed to 112 for eight, but Jadeja, with steadfast resistance from Jasprit Bumrah (5 off 54) and Mohammed Siraj (4 off 30), dragged the game deep. The visitors eventually folded for 170, falling heartbreakingly short in a contest that swung wildly throughout.
England skipper Ben Stokes led from the front, finishing with figures of 3 for 48, complemented by Jofra Archer (3/55) and Brydon Carse (2/30), who capitalized on a rare collective failure by India’s top and middle order.
Siraj, defiant till the end, was undone when a forward defence to Shoaib Bashir trickled back onto his stumps—his despairing reaction captured the agony of a near-heist denied. India were just 30 runs away from what would have been a famous win at Lord’s.
Jadeja, playing with remarkable discipline and resolve, anchored the innings through an extended afternoon session, shielding the tail for nearly two and a half hours. His half-century—his fourth in a row—came in dire circumstances and nearly turned the game on its head.
By tea, India had reached 163 for nine, with Bumrah falling shortly before the interval. A full house at Lord’s, on a Monday no less, was treated to gripping cricket from both sides in one of the most memorable finishes at the iconic venue.
Earlier, India resumed at 58 for four, needing 135 more. But their hopes were quickly dashed by a devastating morning session. KL Rahul (39), Rishabh Pant (9), and Washington Sundar (0) all fell within the first hour, leaving Jadeja with only the tail for company.
Pant briefly sparkled with two boundaries, including a signature one-handed drive, but Archer, returning to Test cricket after four years, produced a beauty to rattle Pant’s off-stump. A fired-up Archer had a few words for the departing batter as he made his way back through the Long Room.
Rahul was India’s best hope to shepherd the innings but perished to a vicious in-seamer from Stokes that crashed into his pads. The umpire’s not-out call was overturned on review, sparking a roar from the England faithful. Washington’s stay was brief, nicking a return catch to Archer.
Despite the early blows, Jadeja found brief support from debutant Nitish Reddy, and then from Bumrah and Siraj, showcasing immense grit as the ball kept misbehaving off the pitch. At 95 for seven, defeat looked imminent, but Jadeja’s fightback gave India a glimpse of hope.
Stokes bowled a tireless nine-over spell in the morning, with Reddy scoring India’s first boundary in 80 balls—a stark illustration of their defensive approach. The England captain’s lion-hearted effort defined the tone of the day.
Now, both teams will get a break before reconvening in Manchester for the fourth Test starting July 23, with India aiming to bounce back and keep the series alive.
Brief Scores:
- England: 387 & 192
- India: 387 & 170 all out in 74.5 overs (KL Rahul 39, Ravindra Jadeja 61*; Jofra Archer 3/55, Ben Stokes 3/48)
Result: England won by 22 runs; lead five-match series 2–1.
