Off-spinner Sundar’s superb 4-22 ensures England are bowled out for 192, but visiting batters fail to seize initiative, losing four wickets for 58 runs at stumps on Day Four
An ecstatic Washington Sundar celebrates the dismissal of England’s Joe Root at Lord’s, London, yesterday. Pics/PTI, Getty Images
Since surrendering the ‘unlosable’ Test in Leeds last month, India have dug deep and regrouped splendidly. Fears that they might be wiped out after throwing away numerous advantageous positions in the first Test have proved unfounded, their resounding 336-run triumph in Birmingham standing testament to their resilience and self-belief.
Shubman Gill’s boys have displayed those same traits in ample measure at Lord’s too. More than once, they have been pushed into a corner, but have managed to bounce back each time to compete on even terms.
India skipper Shubman Gill walks back after being dismissed for six
On Day Four of the third Test, India gave themselves a great chance with a spirited bowling performance, an unheralded off-spinner emerging as the hero.
Washington Sundar was picked in the XI from the second Test for his utility value, which he had already showcased over the last eight days. On Sunday, after being belatedly introduced into the attack, he precipitated a spectacular collapse that saw the last six England wickets tumble for 38 runs, either side of tea. His unchanged spell of four for 22 — all his victims were bowled — meant England, sitting pretty at 158 for four, keeled over for 192, necessitating India to score 193 on a wearing surface of dubious bounce to grab a 2-1 lead.
Yashasvi Jaiswal didn’t do himself or his team any favours by attempting an outrageous and ill-advised pull to his first ball from Jofra Archer, outside off and almost near his shoulder, that he only managed to sky to Jamie Smith without tickling the scorers. India’s plight would have been worse had Chris Woakes not spilled first-innings centurion KL Rahul (33 not out) on his follow-through with the opener on only five.
After the somewhat unedifying scenes late on Saturday evening when Zak Crawley’s time-wasting tactics met with angry and unbecoming responses from Gill in particular, a tense opening passage was in store when England resumed on two without loss, which was also their overall advantage. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj bowled superbly and fortune finally smiled on the latter when he got rid of Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope in quick time.
In reply, India began their 193-run chase poorly, losing four wickets with 58 runs on the board. Jaiswal, Karun Nair, skipper Gill and nightwatchman Akash Deep were all dismissed with the visitors needing another 135 runs to win on Day Five.
12
No. of England batters clean bowled by India during the ongoing Lord’s Test — the most by an Indian side in a match
Brief scores
England 387 & 192 (J Root 40, B Stokes 33; W Sundar 4-22, M Siraj 2-31, J Bumrah 2-38) vs India 387 & 58-4 (KL Rahul 33*; B Carse 2-11)
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