IND vs ENG 3rd Test Day 3: England Edge Ahead After Bumrah’s Five-Wicket Haul at Lord’s
Another Nail-Biter at Lord’s: England and India Go Head-to-Head
If you love tightly contested Test matches, Day 3 at Lord’s served up a real thriller. England ended the day barely ahead, leading India by just 2 runs as stumps were drawn. With the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy hanging in the balance, both sides showed nerves, guts, and a few flashes of brilliance.
India started their day at 145/3, hoping to close the gap quickly. But Jofra Archer, making a highly-anticipated return after a long injury layoff, was quick to kill that vibe. His second ball sent the dangerous Yashasvi Jaiswal packing before he could settle in. Archer’s sharp pace and bounce reminded everyone why he’s so lethal when fit. From there, it didn’t get any easier for India’s middle order. Karun Nair, who looked set to anchor the innings, made 40 with some stylish drives but fell just as he was looking good—caught by Joe Root off Ben Stokes.
KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, both aggressive in style, tried playing out England’s pace trap but could never get truly comfortable. Skipper Shubman Gill’s stay was frustratingly short; Chris Woakes knocked him over cheaply before Gill could make much of an impact. The Indian lineup looked rattled and runs dried up as England’s fast bowlers exploited the extra bounce and swing Lord’s always offers.
Jasprit Bumrah: Relentless, Ruthless, Rewarded
England’s batsmen, though, didn’t have it all their way earlier in the day. Jasprit Bumrah was the standout for India and again showed why he’s considered one of the best fast bowlers in the world right now. He tore through England’s order with a super-charged spell, picking up his 15th five-wicket haul in Tests. Figures of 5/68 don’t quite tell the full story; Bumrah’s relentless accuracy kept England’s top and middle order from ever relaxing. He found movement both ways and had the batters hopping, especially when the ball was new.
Still, England scrapped together a defendable total, thanks to some late resistance from their lower order. Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse refused to throw their wickets away and squeezed out some handy runs when their team really needed it. Their stand frustrated India and pushed England’s total to 387, turning what could have been a major lead for India into a tight two-run advantage for the hosts.
By the time India came out again to open their second innings, you could feel the tension. England’s bowlers immediately turned up the pressure. India finished the day at 2/0, their openers facing a barrage of well-directed short balls. With all results still on the table, fans can expect a gripping Day 4 where either team could seize control. Just how we like our Test cricket—unpredictable, fiercely competitive, and the margin between the teams thinner than ever.