The third morning of the Test match at the venerable Lord`s unfolded with India seeking to solidify their position after a challenging couple of days. The stage was set for a crucial session, and the task fell primarily to KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, who resumed India`s innings needing to eat into England`s substantial first-innings lead. The pitch, offering minimal assistance to the bowlers, presented an opportunity for the batsmen to dictate terms, provided they could navigate the initial discipline.
Rahul, exhibiting the composure that has been a hallmark of his series so far, anchored one end, inching closer to what would be his second century of the tour. At the other end, Rishabh Pant, known for his fearless approach, batted with remarkable restraint initially, a tactical shift perhaps necessitated by the match situation and a reported discomfort in his dominant hand. Despite this physical impediment, Pant demonstrated his unique ability to turn defense into attack, not only reaching a commendable half-century – equaling the record for most fifties by a visiting wicketkeeper in England – but also surpassing Viv Richards` long-standing record for the most sixes hit against England in Test cricket. It`s a curious modern phenomenon to break a West Indian legend`s record against England with a six at Lord`s, but Pant, in his inimitable way, made it look almost routine.
England`s bowling attack, featuring the pace of Jofra Archer, the relative inexperience of Brydon Carse, and the strategic mind of Ben Stokes, probed and prodded. Archer found his rhythm after an expensive start, while Carse offered moments of looseness that Rahul capitalized on efficiently, finding boundaries through the leg side and precisely threading the gap between gully and point. Stokes, deploying a persistent short-ball strategy, aimed to unsettle the batsmen, particularly Pant. While this tactic met with mixed success, occasionally causing discomfort to Pant`s injured hand, the left-hander found ways to either negotiate or dispatch these deliveries, often with power and unconventional flair.
The partnership between Rahul and Pant blossomed, adding a vital 141 runs for the fourth wicket. This period represented India`s most productive phase of the morning, significantly reducing the deficit and building pressure on the host nation. Rahul`s concentration remained unwavering as he approached the nervous nineties, while Pant`s innings provided the necessary impetus, blending defense with calculated aggression. The prospect of both batsmen reaching significant milestones – Rahul a century, Pant already having secured personal records and a valuable fifty – seemed within reach as the Lunch interval loomed.
However, cricket, particularly at Lord`s, often reserves a twist for the most opportune moments. Just as the session seemed poised for India to head into the break having suffered no casualties, a moment of misjudgment brought the promising partnership to an abrupt and unfortunate end. With Rahul positioned on 98 and the Lunch break mere minutes away, a defensive push from Pant to the off-side prompted a risky call for a quick single from the non-striker. Pant, perhaps caught slightly off guard or hesitant due to his injury, was slow to respond. England captain Ben Stokes, alert and anticipating the opportunity, swooped in from cover with remarkable speed and executed a direct hit at the non-striker`s end. The result was the avoidable run-out of Rishabh Pant for a well-made 74. A productive morning session, defined by resilience and record-breaking from the fourth-wicket pair, concluded on a slightly sour note, reminding everyone that in Test cricket, opportunities seized, or missed, can change the course of the game in an instant.
Dominic Ashworth