England vs India 3rd Test Day 4 Match Report: Rahul’s Grit and Washington’s Magic Leave Lord’s Thriller on a Knife-Edge

Day 4 of the England vs India 3rd Test at Lord’s was a pulsating affair packed with drama, grit, and fluctuations. After Washington Sundar spun a web around the English middle order, the visitors found themselves wobbling in pursuit of 193, closing the day at 58 for 4.

With KL Rahul unbeaten on 33, India’s hopes rest on his shoulders as both teams gear up for a grandstand Day 5 finale in what has become a classic England vs India Test battle.

Washington Sundar’s Stunning Burst Shifts the Balance

Brought into the attack late in the afternoon, Washington Sundar changed the complexion of the match with a brilliant spell of off-spin. His introduction came after India’s pace trio had done the hard yards, and the offspinner made immediate impact with a crafty mix of drift, flight, and subtle turn.

He dismissed Joe Root, who attempted a sweep and was bowled. Smith followed soon after, beaten by pace off the surface while trying to play off the back foot. Sundar later accounted for Ben Stokes, who was bowled trying to replicate a boundary sweep, and finished the innings by cleaning up Shoaib Bashir. His figures of 4 for 22 are now his best in overseas conditions.

England’s Second Innings: Collapse from Control

The hosts resumed the day at 98/4 and were eyeing a lead close to 250. However, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj maintained relentless pressure. Early in the session, Akash Deep found Root’s edge, but Dhruv Jurel spilled a straightforward catch—and to compound matters, the delivery was a no-ball.

Ben Stokes and Root added a valuable partnership that briefly steadied the innings. Root looked calm, rotating the strike, while Stokes found the boundary with a fierce cut shot. But after the drinks break, Sundar’s arrival changed the narrative.

Stokes, attempting to dominate the spinner, was bowled sweeping after connecting with a similar stroke for four just moments earlier. Carse and Woakes offered little resistance, both cleaned up by Bumrah. As England folded for 192, their once-promising innings crumbled under sustained pressure.

England vs India 3rd Test: Target Set at 193

With the first innings of both teams ending at 387, England’s second effort left India chasing 193 for victory. A gettable score on paper, but far more complex on a pitch exhibiting variable bounce and uneven pace.

India’s Reply: A Wobbly Start on a Testing Pitch

Facing the new ball under fading light, India got off to a nightmare start. Yashasvi Jaiswal, in superb touch this series, misjudged a rising Archer delivery and fell for a duck. KL Rahul, anchoring the innings, absorbed pressure while finding the occasional boundary to relieve it.

Karun Nair offered brief resistance, driving Archer through covers and guiding a few singles. But Brydon Carse’s late swing trapped him LBW after he decided to shoulder arms—a fatal misjudgment.

Next came Shubman Gill, who never looked settled. He survived a DRS call but wasted another, falling LBW to Carse for just 6. The collapse continued as Akash Deep, sent in as nightwatchman, was bowled by a Stokes beauty. India’s innings ended the day at 58 for 4, needing 135 more on Day 5 with Rahul holding the key.

Brydon Carse Emerges as England’s X-Factor

In an attack featuring experienced campaigners like Archer and Woakes, it was Carse who stole the spotlight in the final hour. With precise seam presentation and late swing, the young pacer induced errors from both Nair and Gill.

His figures of 2 for 11 in six overs perfectly reflected his impact. With the match now delicately poised, Carse’s role on Day 5 could prove decisive in shaping the outcome of this England vs India Test.

Bumrah, Siraj Set the Tone Early

Earlier in the day, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj kept the English top order guessing. Siraj dismissed Duckett, who miscued a pull shot, and then trapped Pope LBW with a delivery that nipped in sharply—India successfully reviewed the original not-out decision.

Bumrah, though visibly struggling with his calf, returned late in the innings and produced two lethal yorkers to dismiss Carse and Woakes. His commitment and skill underlined why he remains India’s go-to weapon in crunch situations.

KL Rahul: India’s Lone Beacon

With wickets tumbling around him, KL Rahul’s 33 not out has been a study in composure and focus. He survived a dropped return catch, edged a few dangerously, but never lost control of his shot selection.

His punchy drives off Woakes, glances against Archer, and soft hands against Stokes showed his adaptability. For India to pull off a famous win in this England vs India 3rd Test, Rahul will need to bat deep into the final day.

India’s Bowling Figures: England Second Innings

What to Expect on Day 5: Tension, Nerves, and Glory Await

With 135 runs to get and only six wickets in hand, the England vs India 3rd Test is set for a potentially epic finish. India’s batting depth—with Pant, Jadeja, Reddy, and Sundar to come—gives them a shot, but England’s relentless pace attack and momentum from Day 4 offer them a clear advantage.

Both sides have their vulnerabilities. For India, it’s navigating the first hour without further damage. For England, it’s ensuring Rahul and Pant don’t wrest back control.

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