ENG vs IND | Bumrah picks maiden fifer at Lord’s before Rahul leads India’s response with bat

‌The third Test between England and India at Lord’s was evenly poised as the visitors ended day two at 145/3, still 242 runs adrift of the home side’s total. KL Rahul remained unbeaten with a patient half-century after pacer Jasprit Bumrah picked up his first five-wicket haul at the famed venue to bowl out England for 387.

Joe Root completed his 37th Test century in the first ball of the second day as England resumed from their overnight score of 251/4. But Bumrah’s initial spell with the new ball tilted the match in India’s favour. The pacer bowled a jaffa to go through skipper Ben Stokes’ defence, ending his stubborn 110-ball innings. In his next over, the pacer accounted for centurion Joe Root (104) and all-rounder Chris Woakes in consecutive deliveries as England slipped to 271/7. But Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse came together to rescue the hosts from further trouble with an entertaining partnership. The wicketkeeper-batter completed his half-century, his third consecutive score of fifty-plus, in just 52 balls as England were placed at 353/7 at lunch.

However, Mohammed Siraj dismissed Smith (51) in the second over after resumption, with Jasprit Bumrah castling Jofra Archer three overs later to complete his first five-wicket haul at the hallowed venue. England were dismissed for 387 in the second session, with Brydon Carse being the last man to be dismissed after scoring six fours and a six during his knock of 56. For India, pacer Bumrah finished with impressive figures of 5/74 to etch his name on the Honours Board at Lord’s while Siraj and Nitish Kumar Reddy had two wickets apiece.

Yashasvi Jaiswal started India’s response in style with three boundaries off Chris Woakes, but was dismissed in the next over with Jofra Archer inducing the southpaw’s edge with an excellent delivery. But KL Rahul and number three batter Karun Nair tackled England’s probing new-ball spell without further casualties, walking in for tea at 44/1 after 14 overs.

Both Rahul and Karun added 61 runs for the second wicket to stabilise the Indian innings. But the latter wasted an excellent start to be dismissed for 40 off 62 balls after Joe Root completed an excellent reflex catch at slips off Stokes. The catch also took Root to number one in the list of most catches in Tests, going past Rahul Dravid’s tally of 210 catches. With Shubman Gill also departing after making 16, England had a slight advantage towards the end of the day’s play. However, Rahul completed his 19th fifty in Tests, off 97 balls, to remain unbeaten on 53 and added an unbroken 38 runs for the fourth wicket with vice-captain Rishabh Pant.