Lord's Test Hangs in the Balance After Dramatic Day 4
The third Test at Lord's is poised for a classic, nerve-wracking conclusion after a dramatic fourth day saw momentum swing violently between India and England. After 14 wickets tumbled, the match sits on a knife-edge: India requires 135 more runs to win, while England needs just six wickets to claim victory.
The day belonged largely to Indian spinner Washington Sundar, who produced a masterful bowling performance. His figures of 4 for 22, the best by an Indian spinner at Lord's since 1974, were instrumental in bundling England out for 192 in their second innings. After the first innings scores were tied at 387, this left India with a target of 193 to take a 2-1 series lead.
Washington dismantled the core of England's batting lineup. He broke a threatening 67-run partnership by bowling Joe Root for 40 and later dismissed captain Ben Stokes for 33. His quicker, skidding deliveries proved difficult to handle on the fourth-day pitch. India's seamers also played their part, with Mohammed Siraj striking early and Jasprit Bumrah cleaning up the tail with his signature yorkers. England’s innings was marked by a collapse, as they lost their last six wickets for just 38 runs.
Just when India appeared to have seized complete control, England’s bowlers mounted a fierce counterattack in the final session. The chase began poorly when Jofra Archer had Yashasvi Jaiswal caught early. However, the real damage was done in the last half-hour of play.
Brydon Carse, bowling with pace and precision, tore through India’s top order. He trapped Karun Nair and Shubman Gill LBW in quick succession, leaving the visitors reeling. The drama peaked with the final ball of the day when Ben Stokes, in a captain’s masterstroke, bowled nightwatcher Akash Deep, sending his off-stump cartwheeling.
India will resume on the final day at a precarious 58 for 4. The responsibility now falls heavily on the shoulders of KL Rahul, who remains at the crease on 33 not out. With the match so finely balanced, the first session on day five promises to be a tense and decisive battle that will determine the outcome of this enthralling Test match.
