The third day of the Test match between India and England at Lord's ended with the match evenly poised, showcasing a captivating blend of resilience, drama, and high-quality cricket. At the end of the day's play, England held a slender lead of 2 runs.
India's innings saw them equal England's first innings score of 387. Key contributions came from KL Rahul, who scored a century, along with significant half-centuries from Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja.
Rahul's innings was a masterclass in grit and composure. He reached his century with a quick single, marking his second hundred of the series. His innings was laced with 13 fours and demonstrated excellent timing and placement. Pant contributed a valuable 74, while Jadeja continued his fine form with a solid 72.
England's bowling attack chipped away at the Indian batting lineup, ensuring that the visitors were eventually dismissed in the final session. Chris Woakes was the pick of the bowlers for England, taking 3 wickets for 84 runs. Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes supported well, each taking two wickets. Archer notably dismissed Jaiswal, marking his return to Test cricket after four years.
The day wasn't without its tense moments. Shubman Gill was seen exchanging words with England's openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, apparently frustrated with their time-wasting tactics.
As the shadows lengthened at Lord's, England began their second innings, Crawley and Duckett at the crease. They saw out the remaining over, taking England to a lead of 2 runs. With the scores level after the first innings, the match is wide open, promising two more days of enthralling cricket.