Lord's Test: England take 2-1 series lead with thrilling 22-run win over India on Day 5
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England, July 14 and Lord's are a trio that once produced a historic blockbuster in 2019. Then, England went on to register their first-ever ODI World Cup title by beating New Zealand in the final. It was a game that ended in a tie initially and the Super Over also tied, which meant England got announced as the winners due to a superior boundary count in their 50-over innings. Six years later, Ben Stokes' Test side have registered one of the most famous wins under his captaincy.
The target of 193 looked about 30-40 short but the English captain produced a stunning late burst on Day 4 alongside Brydon Carse to leave India at 58/4 by the close of play. While KL Rahul looked solid as usual, an injured Rishabh Pant whose wounds had aggravated due to his first innings efforts struggled in the morning. The first hour of the final day was always going to be critical and it is a phase that England owned with aplomb.
Comeback man Jofra Archer was the difference-maker as his prised out the massive scalp of Pant in the initial overs of the day. Pant, struggling due to the pain in his dominant left hand, mostly played shots with the bottom hand coming off. One of those shots against Archer even went past mid-off for a boundary. However, it was the talisman pacer who had the last laugh as he got one to straighten from a good length, past Pant's feeble defensive push to make a mess of the off stump. It was a cracking ball, no doubt, and Pant's injury meant that he had virtually no chance of keeping it out.
If Archer's delivery to Pant was special, Stokes' peach to Rahul was arguably the ball of the game, especially when you weigh in the context of the match. It was a wicked nip-backer that pitched well outside off stump and came back in a mile with low bounce. Rahul was on the shuffle, trying to work it leg-side but had no chance of keeping it out. Strangely, it wasn't given out on-field but Stokes was confident and DRS proved him right.
Archer then got rid of Washington Sundar who was done for pace to offer a tame return catch that the fast bowler took with great reflexes. At 82/7, the game seemed dead for India but Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Reddy fought for a while, blunting England's challenge. The pair added 30 valuable runs before Chris Woakes produced a cracking delivery to get Reddy caught behind. Jadeja, meanwhile, looked fluent at the crease but was running out of partners.
Jasprit Bumrah gave company to Jadeja as another 35 more runs were added, chewing up more than 20 overs in the process. England were firmly on top but India were also hanging in there, just. Unfortunately, runs came a trickle and with Jadeja keen to play riskfree cricket till the end, Bumrah felt the urge to play some shots. One of those attempts brought about his downfall against Stokes.
India needed 46 when Siraj joined Jadeja and to their credit, the last-wicket stand really tested England with their grit and calculative methods. It was a time when the left-hander also took a few more risks, albeit nothing reckless. The hosts knew it was only a matter of one good delivery and while Siraj fought valiantly, even copping body blows, luck didn't stay with him long enough.
A sharp off-break from Shoaib Bashir was the final nail for India. Siraj hung back to defend and as he was trying to do it with soft hands due to the close-in fielders, the ball trickled past him and crawled to hit the stumps, almost in slow motion. Before Siraj could react, it was all over.
The no.11 was heartbroken and in denial for moments after the game ended. So emotional was Siraj who was perhaps feeling guilty of letting his team down that England's players all went up to console him.
It was a thrilling end to a perfect Test match on a pitch that was sporting enough despite the Dukes ball being out of shape too early many-a-time. Joe Root and KL Rahul enriched Lord's with their classy centuries but the latter will feel he should have batted deeper in the first innings. His eagerness to get to hundred ended in Rishabh Pant's run out at a time when India were bossing the game. Rahul, too, fell soon after his hundred and the two teams were level after the first innings. It could easily have been a handy lead for India.
The visitors, however, put on a stunning show as a bowling unit in the second innings to bowl England out for 192. Bumrah, who got his name on the honors board in the first innings, picked up two wickets, as did Siraj but the star of the innings was Washington Sundar. The off-spinner put on his best bowling performance in overseas Tests to dent England. 193 didn't seem a winning score but England and Stokes were fired up big time.
The hosts put on a phenomenal bowling effort to seal a thrilling win. Considering the criticism that the team was under after a heavy defeat at Edgbaston, England needed to win and had their backs against the wall after their second innings batting effort. However, their team took the persona of their valiant skipper and pounced on India to deliver a famous win. Jadeja produced a fantastic unbeaten fifty to continue his purple patch in the series but in the end, he ran out of partners.
If the Edgbaston Test was about Shubman Gill, this game was about Stokes. The England captain may not have had surreal numbers but produced an impact whenever his side needed in this game, including a crucial little knock in the second innings. He was pumped up and the infectious energy pulled along as well. The all-rounder was named Player of the Match for his all-round brilliance and captaincy methods.
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