ENG vs IND 3rd Test, day 5: England pull off stunning victory to go 2-1 up

England delivered a gritty and determined performance on the final day (Monday) of the third Test at Lord's, overcoming India by 22 runs in a nail-biting finish to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. In a low-scoring but dramatic encounter, England successfully defended a modest target of 193, showcasing their fighting spirit.

Despite a courageous stand by Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (61*), who demonstrated composure and fight in the lower order, India finally fell short as their tailenders crumbled under mounting pressure.

Jadeja remained defiant at the crease, attempting to lead the chase with limited support. However, England’s bowlers cleaned up the tail swiftly, with Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer chipping in with three wickets each. The turning point of the match came when India’s top order failed to make any significant impact, with key players Yashasvi Jaiswal (0), KL Rahul (39), Rishabh Pant (9) and skipper Shubman Gill (6) falling cheaply.

Earlier in the match, both teams produced similar first innings totals of 387. England, batting first, rode on strong contributions from Joe Root (104), Ben Stokes (44) and Jamie Smith (51) to reach 387. In reply, India matched the effort, thanks largely to a fighting century from KL Rahul and gritty knocks from Rishabh Pant (74) and Ravindra Jadeja (72).