Stokes Inspires England To Defeat Stubborn India

Third Rothesay Test, Lord's (day 5 of five)

England 387 (Root 104, Carse 56, Smith 51; Bumrah 5-74) & 192 (Root 40; Sundar 4-22)

India 387 (Rahul 100, Pant 74, Jadeja 72; Woakes 3-84) & 170 (Jadeja 61*; Stokes 3-48, Archer 3-55)

England triumph by 22 runs and lead bid 2-1

Scorecard

Ben Stokes erstwhile again inspired England to a 22-run triumph complete a stubborn India connected an unbearably tense last time of nan 3rd Test astatine Lord's.

The skipper delivered a monumental displacement pinch nan shot to declare 3 wickets arsenic India were bowled retired for 170.

In an epic conclusion, nan hosts had triumph successful their grasp until nerves were frayed by outstanding defiance from Ravindra Jadeja.

Chasing 193, India were 112-8 erstwhile Jadeja was joined by number 10 Jasprit Bumrah. They were together for almost 22 overs until Stokes, who bowled tirelessly from nan Nursery End, drew Bumrah into a propulsion to mid-on. Bumrah's publication to a guidelines of 35 was 5 from 54 balls.

Still Jadeja resisted, this clip pinch past man Mohammed Siraj. Stokes refused to extremity bowling. A delayed beverage was taken pinch 30 required for India.

The injured Shoaib Bashir was summoned aft nan break, and incredibly sewage Siraj to take sides nan shot into nan crushed and backmost connected to his stumps. Bashir group disconnected connected a delirious celebration, astir apt his past enactment of a bid successful which he is apt to beryllium ruled retired of nan last 2 Tests. Jadeja was near stranded connected 61 from 181 balls.

The drawn-out finale was a nonstop opposition to a pulsating morning, erstwhile Stokes and Jofra Archer collapsed unfastened nan India batting pinch immoderate irresistible gait bowling.

Archer ripped Rishabh Pant's disconnected stump retired of nan ground, Stokes had KL Rahul lbw connected reappraisal for 39. Washington Sundar, who confidently told nan media connected Sunday nighttime "India will win" was sensationally held by Archer's agile swoop successful his follow-through.

Jadeja began his vigil, first alongside Nitish Kumar Reddy for 15 overs, past Bumrah. Jadeja and Brydon Carse had to beryllium separated aft an accidental collision while Jadeja was moving betwixt nan wickets.

England tried everything and thought they had Jadeja until he overturned being fixed lbw to Chris Woakes connected 26. Once again, Stokes decided it was up to him.

After a spell of 9.2 overs successful nan morning, nan talismanic skipper launched into different of 10 up to tea. Bashir had nan infinitesimal of glory, but it was Stokes who carried England connected his back.

More to follow

This was a slow-burner of a Test, 1 that occasionally crushed to a halt. The finale was much than worthy it, a rowdy Monday astatine a sold-out Lord's. By nan end, England's triumph was nan tightest successful position of runs astatine this celebrated aged ground.

It took 3 days for this lucifer to outpouring to life. When it did, it was compelling. The deterioration of nan transportation helped, but nan existent catalyst was nan hostility betwixt nan 2 teams. They are evenly matched and, if anything, India are unlucky to beryllium behind. The past 2 Tests will beryllium box-office viewing.

England look a amended squad pinch occurrence successful nan bellies, nary much truthful than Stokes, nan arch-competitor. He contributed to this triumph pinch bat and successful nan field, past shouldered nan bowling almost single-handedly connected nan last day.

Stokes was besides rewarded for his loyalty to Archer, who made 1 of nan awesome England comebacks aft 4 years distant from Test cricket pinch injuries. The wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal he took pinch his 3rd shot backmost was an unthinkable moment, his spell connected Monday greeting last impervious he remains each spot nan bowler he was successful his debut summertime of 2019.

England will beryllium forced into 1 alteration for nan 4th Test, pinch Bashir group to beryllium ruled retired pinch an wounded to his near small finger. India will hold connected nan fittingness of Pant, who besides has a digit injury.

In this awesome twelvemonth of Test cricket, pinch an Ashes connected nan horizon, England are connected nan verge of winning a five-match bid for nan first clip since 2018.