England clinches thrilling Lord’s Test by 22 runs

England emerged victorious in a nail-biting third Test against India at Lord’s on Monday after securing a 22-run win and taking a crucial 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

India’s heroic lower-order resistance ultimately fell short, bringing a gripping five-day contest to a dramatic close.

Resuming Day 5 at 58/4, chasing a target of 193, India faced an uphill battle. England’s bowlers, particularly captain Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer maintained relentless pressure throughout the day.

While India lost Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Washington Sundar in quick succession early on, the partnership between Ravindra Jadeja and the tailenders provided a glimmer of hope.

Ravindra Jadeja played a defiant innings, notching up a half-century and marshaling the lower order with remarkable composure. He found crucial support from Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Their resilience pushed the game deep into the final session, keeping English fans on the edge of their seats.

However, An “unlucky dismissal” saw Mohammed Siraj depart in the 75th over, effectively ending India’s chances as they were bowled out for 170. England’s bowling attack shared the spoils with Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse proving particularly effective.

The Test was marked by intense competition and a few heated exchanges. On Day 4, tempers flared when Ben Stokes mockingly clapped at KL Rahul, seemingly in response to a similar gesture by Indian captain Shubman Gill earlier in the match. These moments added an extra layer of drama to an already captivating encounter.

England’s victory at Lord’s sets up an exciting remainder of the series, with both teams having shown their fighting spirit. The focus now shifts to how India will respond after this heartbreaking loss.