The third Test between England and India at Lord`s continued to unfold with characteristic twists and turns on Day 3. By the time Tea was taken, India had advanced their score to 316 for the loss of five wickets, diligently reducing England`s first-innings lead to 71 runs. This middle session saw 68 runs added to the scorebook, albeit for the loss of just one wicket, but it was far from uneventful.
Resuming after Lunch confidently placed on 98 not out, opening batsman KL Rahul wasted little time in reaching his second century at Lord`s, a commendable achievement and his second ton of the series. However, cricket often serves a swift dose of reality. The very next delivery he faced after reaching the milestone proved to be his last. A flighted ball from Shoaib Bashir enticed Rahul forward, leading to an edge that was sharply taken by Harry Brook at first slip. A moment`s lapse in concentration, perhaps the unavoidable consequence of the century milestone, brought a significant inning to an abrupt end.
Following Rahul`s departure, Ravindra Jadeja joined debutant Nitish Reddy at the crease. The initial period of their partnership was, to put it mildly, fraught with tension, largely centered around the running between the wickets, or rather, the potential for mishaps. Nitish Reddy, in particular, seemed determined to test the opposition`s fielding and his own reflexes, surviving no less than three potential run-out opportunities within a relatively short span. One instance saw a casual throw from Ollie Pope missing the stumps with no backup; another involved a mix-up where Jadeja showed little interest in a single Reddy had committed to, requiring a desperate scramble back; and a third saw Ben Duckett fumble a potentially match-altering direct hit chance. Reddy, through a combination of luck and England`s fielding lapses, managed to stay at the wicket, contributing an unbeaten 25 by the interval.
Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja, showcasing his growing maturity as a Test batsman, provided a calmer presence, accumulating a valuable 40 not out. The pair forged a crucial unbroken partnership of 62 runs for the sixth wicket, navigating a testing period. England`s bowlers, including Jofra Archer cranking up the pace past 150 kmph in short bursts and Brydon Carse challenging both edges, applied consistent pressure. Shoaib Bashir, despite injuring his hand attempting a return catch, continued to pose questions. Even the short-ball tactic with the new ball was revisited. Yet, the partnership, drama notwithstanding, endured, guiding India past the 300-run mark and significantly narrowing the deficit.
The session, while not high-scoring, highlighted the resilience required in Test cricket. Despite the loss of a centurion and some heart-in-mouth moments in the middle, India emerged having laid a foundation to potentially challenge England`s total and keep the third Test firmly in the balance.
Dominic Ashworth