Day four of the third Test between England and India at Lord's promises to be a gripping affair, with the match finely balanced after the first three days of play. England will resume their second innings at 2/0, hoping to build a substantial lead after India matched their first innings total of 387.
India's innings on day three was defined by a memorable century from KL Rahul. His innings of 100 off 177 balls was crucial in anchoring the Indian response and ensuring parity. Rahul's knock was his second century at Lord's and his 10th overall in Test cricket, solidifying his reputation as a top-order batsman. He became only the second Indian after Dilip Vengsarkar to score multiple centuries at Lord's.
Rishabh Pant also made a valuable contribution, scoring 74 runs. Pant, who was battling a painful finger injury, played aggressively. According to Rahul, Pant was in considerable pain and disappointed at missing opportunities to score boundaries. Ravindra Jadeja continued his good form with his third successive half-century, scoring 72 and helping India stay level. However, India's lower order couldn't maintain the momentum, leaving the game evenly poised. Jadeja was eventually dismissed by Woakes, with Smith taking a diving catch.
Tensions flared at the end of Day 3 when Shubman Gill and Zak Crawley exchanged words in a heated moment. The incident occurred after India were bowled out, with Crawley seemingly attempting to run down the clock. After facing one delivery from Jasprit Bumrah, he twice pulled out from his stance, citing distractions. Following the fifth delivery, which hit his glove, he called for the physio. Gill, visibly frustrated, urged Crawley to "show some guts" from the slips.
The evenness of the match is highlighted by the fact that both teams scored 387 in their first innings. This is only the fifth time in Test history that both sides have equaled their first innings total, and historically, all four higher totals ended in a draw.
England will be looking to their openers to start strongly and build a significant lead. India, on the other hand, will be aiming to make early breakthroughs with the ball, with Jasprit Bumrah expected to lead the charge. The slow and deteriorating pitch could play a crucial role as the game progresses, favoring the spinners.
Day 3 saw 10 overs lost due to stoppages, contributing to a total time loss of more than a session across the three days due to over-rate issues. This makes every session even more crucial as the Test progresses.
