Ben Stokes’ England pulled off a thrilling 22-run victory at Lord’s after setting India a target of 193 runs.
Mohammed Siraj seemed in control as he played a rising delivery from Shoaib Bashir straight off the middle of the bat — but fate had other ideas. The ball dropped near his crease, rolled back, and clipped the leg stump. The bails came off, triggering wild celebrations from England. Siraj, heartbroken, sat on the crease in disbelief.
At one stage, India looked on course for an incredible win, thanks to a gritty partnership between Ravindra Jadeja and Siraj. But in the end, they fell short. With this win, Stokes’ team took a 2-1 lead in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series.
Jadeja fought a lone battle as wickets kept tumbling around him. India were reeling at 71 for 5 when he walked in. KL Rahul and Washington Sundar soon followed, pushing India towards the brink of defeat.
However, Jadeja brought India back into the game with a steely knock. He received valuable support from the lower order — Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, and Siraj — though it wasn’t enough to see India home. Jadeja remained unbeaten on 61 off 181 balls with 1 six and 4 fours, while no other Indian batter crossed 40.
England started the day strongly. Resuming on 58 for 4, India lost four more wickets in the morning session. Although Jadeja, Bumrah, and Siraj offered resistance in the second session, it was England who smiled at the end.
Stokes was England’s hero with both bat and ball. After a nine-over spell in the morning, he bowled another ten straight overs in the afternoon, finishing with figures of 3 for 48 in 24 overs — adding to his two wickets from the first innings. He also chipped in with scores of 44 and 33 in the match and was rightly named Player of the Match.
Jofra Archer took three wickets in the second innings, Brydon Carse grabbed two, while Chris Woakes and Shoaib Bashir claimed one apiece.
It was Archer who landed the first blow on India, knocking over Rishabh Pant’s off stump with a peach after returning to Test cricket. Stokes trapped first-innings centurion KL Rahul lbw just two overs later with an inswinger that was confirmed on review.
Archer struck again in the following over, diving right to take a stunning return catch off Washington Sundar. Jadeja then tried to rebuild with Nitish before Woakes dismissed him caught behind. India went to lunch at 112 for 8.
Jadeja and Bumrah added 35 runs from 132 balls in a gritty 22-over stand, with Bumrah scoring 5 off 54 deliveries. But Stokes broke through with a short ball that Bumrah pulled to mid-on.
Siraj then dug in alongside Jadeja, managing to survive the remainder of the second session.
Bashir, nursing a finger injury, wasn’t used much by England. But when he did return for his sixth over, luck smiled on him. His delivery took Siraj’s inside edge and rolled onto the stumps, sealing England’s dramatic victory. Siraj scored 4 off 30 balls.
The fourth Test starts at Old Trafford on July 23.
Brief Scores
- England 1st innings: 387
- India 1st innings: 387
- England 2nd innings: 192
- India 2nd innings (Target 193): 170 all out in 74.5 overs
(Jadeja 61*, Rahul 39, Archer 3/55, Stokes 3/48)
Result: England won by 22 runs
Player of the Match: Ben Stokes
Series: England lead 2-1 in the 5-match series
