The nail-biting third Test between India and England at Lord’s is heading into Day 4 with both teams deadlocked, having finished their first innings on identical scores of 387.
Tensions High as Day 4 Begins
After three days of intense, slow-moving cricket, the match stands finely balanced. England will resume their second innings on Sunday at 2/0, with openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett looking to build a strong foundation for the home side.
However, India’s pace attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah, will be keen to strike early. There’s an added edge to the play, especially after a contentious incident on Day 3 involving Crawley’s alleged time-wasting tactics, which prevented India from bowling a second over before stumps. This certainly fired up the visiting side.
First Innings Stalemate
Day 3 saw both teams finish their first innings tied at 387 runs. India had been bowled out earlier in the day for the same score England managed, leaving nothing to separate the two sides heading into the crucial fourth day.
India’s first innings was anchored by a magnificent century from opener KL Rahul, his second at the iconic Lord’s ground. His patient yet impactful knock set the tone for the Indian innings.
Key Contributions for India
Rahul received strong support from wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, both of whom notched up valuable half-centuries. These crucial partnerships helped India reach a competitive total, mirroring England’s earlier effort.
The shared first-innings score highlights the competitive nature of the series, promising a thrilling conclusion to this Test match as both sides battle for the lead in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
What to Expect on Day 4
As play resumes, England will be focused on building a significant lead to put pressure on India. Crawley and Duckett’s ability to navigate the early overs against a charged-up Indian bowling attack will be crucial.
For India, the task is clear: break through England’s top order quickly. Jasprit Bumrah and his fellow bowlers will be targeting early wickets, aiming to exploit any cracks in the English batting line-up and prevent them from running away with the game.
- India and England finished their first innings tied at 387 runs each.
- England will resume Day 4 at 2/0 in their second innings.
- KL Rahul scored a century for India, with Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja adding fifties.
- An incident involving Zak Crawley’s time-wasting on Day 3 has added intensity to the match.
The stage is set for a gripping Day 4, with both teams eager to gain a decisive advantage in what has been a closely contested encounter.
