In a pulsating finale at the Home of Cricket, England held their nerve to secure a 22-run win over India in the third Test at Lord’s, taking a crucial 2-1 lead in the five-match series. What unfolded on the fifth day was a riveting advertisement for Test cricket, as momentum swung wildly before England sealed victory in the final session, ending India’s chase with just over 20 runs to spare.
Chasing 332 for victory on a wearing pitch, India resumed the day at 31 for 2 with hopes pinned on a deep batting lineup and the experience of players like Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja.
However, England’s pace battery, led by the returning Jofra Archer and captain Ben Stokes, launched an early assault. Archer, clocking over 90 mph consistently, removed Pant with a vicious short ball and then dismissed Washington Sundar cheaply to leave India reeling.
Archer’s rhythm and hostility brought echoes of his 2019 Ashes spells, and his performance here was a stark reminder of what England had missed during his injury-enforced absence.
Stokes, whose influence on this Test was immense, delivered a marathon spell that yielded the wicket of Nitish Reddy while also effecting a brilliant direct-hit run-out to send back KL Rahul, who had looked like India’s most composed batter until that moment. Rahul’s dismissal for 39 was a turning point. With India collapsing to 112 for 8 by lunch, England appeared destined to wrap up a comfortable win.
But Ravindra Jadeja had other plans. The left-hander, so often India’s crisis man, dug in with his trademark grit. Alongside Jasprit Bumrah, Jadeja batted with composure and discipline, wearing down the English bowlers and inching India closer to the target.
The pair put on a 52-run stand that not only frustrated England but also began to ignite genuine hope in the Indian camp. Jadeja was unflinching in defense and clinical when scoring opportunities arose, expertly managing the strike and shielding Siraj once Bumrah departed.
England, meanwhile, were hampered by an injury to Shoaib Bashir, who had fractured a finger while fielding on Day 4. Yet, in the final hour, it was Bashir who returned to bowl with a strapped-up hand, showing remarkable courage.
With India needing 23 more runs and just one wicket in hand, the tension in the stadium was palpable. Every ball felt decisive. Then, with Siraj on strike, Bashir floated one that reared awkwardly, brushing the glove and ballooning off the body before crashing into the stumps. England had done it.
Jadeja was left stranded on a valiant 61 not out, his innings a masterclass in determination. He soaked up 181 deliveries and nearly pulled off what would’ve been one of the greatest fourth-innings chases at Lord’s. But ultimately, it was England’s superior control with the ball and their ability to seize key moments that proved decisive.
Earlier in the match, England’s first-innings total of 287 had been powered by Stokes’ gutsy 77 and handy runs from the lower order. India, in response, posted 249, with Rishabh Pant top-scoring but falling short of converting a start.
England’s second innings was bolstered by a crucial half-century from Zak Crawley, while the Indian spinners shared the wickets, setting India a target of 332.
The result puts England ahead in the series and continues their excellent home form. For India, the defeat will sting particularly given how close they came, but they’ll draw heart from the fight shown by their lower order and the continued excellence of Jadeja.
As the series heads to Old Trafford, the momentum lies with England, but India has shown they’re never out of the contest. The Lord’s Test was a modern classic: high drama, fierce bowling, courageous batting, and a final act worthy of cricket’s grandest stage.