A fierce spell by Brydon Carse and a timely breakthrough from Ben Stokes left India in deep trouble at 58/4 by stumps on Day 4, as they chase a target of 193 in the third Test at Lord’s. With the match delicately poised, India face a challenging final day, needing 135 more runs with only six wickets in hand.
India began their second innings after bowling out England for 192 in their second innings, thanks to a match-defining spell by Washington Sundar, who took 4 for 22. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj supported well with two wickets each, while Nitish Kumar Reddy and Akash Deep also chipped in with one apiece. England collapsed despite a fighting 33 from Ben Stokes and ended their innings in 62 overs.
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The chase began poorly for India. Jofra Archer struck early, removing Yashasvi Jaiswal for a duck with a mistimed pull that landed in Jamie Smith’s hands. KL Rahul, who scored a century in the first innings, looked composed and found boundaries against Archer and Woakes, providing a glimmer of hope.
However, Carse turned the game on its head with a devastating spell. First, he ended a promising 36-run stand by trapping Karun Nair lbw for 14. He then dismissed India captain Shubman Gill, also lbw, for just 6, making it a forgettable outing for the skipper. India slipped to 53/3.
Akash Deep was sent in as a nightwatchman to support Rahul, but just before stumps, Stokes produced a vital blow by bowling Akash for 1. KL Rahul remained unbeaten on 33, with key batters like Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Kumar Reddy still to bat on the final day.
Earlier in the day, England resumed their second innings at 2/0. Mohammed Siraj provided the early breakthrough by dismissing Ben Duckett for 12. He followed up by removing Ollie Pope for 4, reducing England to 42/2. Zak Crawley and Joe Root steadied the innings briefly before Nitish Kumar Reddy dismissed Crawley for 22.
Harry Brook counter-attacked with a quick 23 off 17 balls but was bowled by Akash Deep. Root and Stokes then formed a 67-run partnership, frustrating India’s bowlers. Root survived two close chances — one dropped catch and one umpire’s call on DRS — but eventually fell to Sundar for 40. Sundar struck again to bowl Jamie Smith for 8 and later clean bowled Stokes and Shoaib Bashir to wrap up England’s innings.
England’s first innings total of 387 was built around Joe Root’s 104 and late-order fifties from Brydon Carse and Jamie Smith. India matched that with their own 387, thanks to KL Rahul’s century and Jadeja’s 72, setting the stage for a gripping final day.
Brief scores at stumps on Day 4:
- England: 387 & 192 (Joe Root 40, Ben Stokes 33; Washington Sundar 4/22)
- India: 387 & 58/4 (KL Rahul 33*, Karun Nair 14; Brydon Carse 2/11)
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