England beat India in nail-biting Test at Lord's

July 15,2025
Blogs
LONDON:

England beat India by 22 runs in a thrilling third Test at Lord's on Monday to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

India, set 193 to win, were dismissed for 170 after tea on the last day, with the match ending when last man Mohammed Siraj played on to off-spinner Shoaib Bashir.

Ravindra Jadeja was 61 not out -- the all-rounder's fourth consecutive fifty this series -- after taking India to within sight of what would have been a remarkable win.

England captain Ben Stokes bowled two lengthy spell Monday on his way to innings figures of 3-48, with express fast bowler Jofra Archer -- in his first Test after more than four years of injury induced exile -- taking 3-55.

Earlier, Ravindra Jadeja's unbeaten fifty maintained India's hopes of a stunning. India were 163-9 at tea on the final day -- one wicket away from defeat but needing just 30 more runs to reach a victory target of 193 that would put them 2-1 up in this five-match series.

India were all but beaten at 112-8 when tailender Jasprit Bumrah joined Jadeja in the middle immediately after lunch. But the pair kept England at bay with a stubborn stand of 35 in 22 overs.

Bumrah, defying a run of four successive noughts in Test cricket, defended gamely while making five in 54 balls only for his innings to end when he top-edged a pull off Stokes to substitute fielder Sam Cook at mid-on.

England were now on the brink of victory, with India 147-9 -- a position that meant tea was delayed by 30 minutes. But Jadeja, who overturned an lbw decision given against him on 26, went to fifty when a flashing cut off England captain Ben Stokes flew over the slips for the left-hander's fourth four in 150 balls faced.

Stokes, whose career has been blighted by knee trouble, bowled two lengthy spells Monday on his way to interval figures of 3-48 in 24 overs. And fast bowler Jofra Archer, in his first Test after more than four years of injury-induced exile had 3-52 in 14.

This match became a second-innings shoot-out after both teams made 387 in their first innings.

England then made 192 before India slumped to 58-4 when Stokes bowled nightwatchman Akash Deep with what became the last ball of Sunday's play.

From 71-4 on Monday, the match swung England's way once more as India lost three wickets for 11 runs in collapsing to 82-7.