Lord's Test on a Knife's Edge: India's Dramatic Day 4 Chase

What a day of Test cricket! The third Test of the Anderson-T Tendulkar Trophy at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground has twisted and turned, and after a dramatic Day 4, it’s balanced on a razor's edge. Chasing 193 for victory, India ended the day in a precarious position at 58 for 4. The stage is now set for a nail-biting final day, with India needing 135 runs and England hunting for six more wickets.

Key Highlights

• ✓ India needs 135 more runs to win on the final day, with the score at 58/4.
• ✓ England were bowled out for 192 in their second innings, setting a target of 193.
• ✓ Spinner Washington Sundar was the star for India, taking four crucial wickets.
• ✓ Both India and England were tied after the first innings, each scoring exactly 387 runs.
• ✓ KL Rahul remains unbeaten, holding the key to India's chase on a challenging pitch.

England's Second Innings Tumble

The day began with England looking to build a commanding lead, but the Indian bowlers had other ideas. The first session was pure chaos for the home side, thanks to some fiery and disciplined bowling. Mohammed Siraj, who is known for his passionate and aggressive approach, was absolutely electric. He got the ball rolling by sending Ben Duckett back for just 12, and the dismissal was followed by an intense celebration and even a slight shoulder brush, showing just how much this match means.

Siraj didn't stop there. He soon claimed the wicket of Ollie Pope for 4, forcing India to use a review to get the decision. It was a masterclass in bowling from the Nursery End, as he conceded just 11 runs in his initial seven-over spell. The pressure was relentless. Captain Shubman Gill made a smart bowling change, bringing on all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who promptly got the big wicket of Zak Crawley for 22, caught brilliantly by Yashasvi Jaiswal in the gully. The collapse continued when Akash Deep shattered Harry Brook’s stumps, leaving England reeling at 87 for four.

💡 What's Interesting: When Washington Sundar was picked for this Test, some questioned the decision. He answered his critics in the most emphatic way possible, taking four massive wickets—including those of Joe Root and Ben Stokes—and all of them were bowled!

Sundar's Spin Webb Weaves its Magic

Just when it looked like Joe Root (40) and Ben Stokes (33) were building a resilient partnership to pull England out of trouble, Washington Sundar stepped up. The spinner, who had a point to prove, completely turned the game on its head. He produced a beautiful delivery to bowl the in-form Joe Root, breaking a crucial 67-run partnership for the fifth wicket. This was a massive moment in the match.

Sundar wasn't done yet. He went on to dismiss Jamie Smith for 8, then came back to clean up the dangerous Ben Stokes and tail-ender Shoaib Bashir. In a remarkable display of control and skill, every single one of his four victims was bowled. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah, who had been incredibly unlucky in his morning spell, finally got his reward late in the day, picking up the wickets of Brydon Carse and Chris Woakes. England's tail folded quickly, losing their last four wickets for just 11 runs as they were all out for 192.

A Look Back at the First Innings Deadlock

To truly appreciate the drama of this chase, you have to remember how we got here. The first innings was an incredibly tight affair, with both teams posting the exact same score: 387. For England, the cornerstone was another magnificent century from their former captain, Joe Root, who scored 104—his 37th in Tests and 11th against India. He was well-supported by half-centuries from Jamie Smith (51) and Brydon Carse (56). For India, Jasprit Bumrah was the standout performer with the ball, claiming a brilliant five-wicket haul.

When India came to bat, it was KL Rahul's turn to shine. He anchored the innings with a sublime 100, his tenth century in Test cricket. The middle order also fired, with Rishabh Pant playing a typically aggressive knock of 74 and Ravindra Jadeja contributing a solid 72. Despite their efforts, India couldn't secure a first-innings lead, setting up this thrilling, low-scoring showdown in the second half of the match.

India's Nervous Chase Under Pressure

With a target of 193, the chase was always going to be tricky on a Day 4 pitch showing signs of uneven bounce. India's start was nothing short of a nightmare. Yashasvi Jaiswal was sent back for a duck in the second over, caught behind off a fiery delivery from Jofra Archer. The early blow put immediate pressure on the batting lineup. KL Rahul and Karun Nair tried to steady the ship, adding 36 runs for the second wicket, but the partnership was broken by Brydon Carse, who trapped Nair LBW for 14.

Things went from bad to worse when captain Shubman Gill, who has had a quiet match with the bat, was also dismissed by Carse for just 6. With the top order rattled, India sent in Akash Deep as a night-watchman to see out the day. However, Ben Stokes had other plans, bowling him for just a single run right before the close of play. The day ended with India at 58 for 4, with KL Rahul standing unbeaten on a gritty 20, representing India's last big hope.

Conclusion

So, here we are. After four days of gripping, see-sawing Test cricket, it all comes down to the final day at Lord's. The match is perfectly poised for a grandstand finish. Can KL Rahul, along with the explosive Rishabh Pant, guide India to a memorable victory by scoring the remaining 135 runs? Or will the English bowlers, on a pitch that's offering them plenty of help, run through the rest of the Indian lineup to claim the six wickets they need? No matter who wins, this has been a Test match for the ages, reminding us all why this format is the pinnacle of the sport.