India need another 135 runs for a win in the third Test
Dubai: With India needing another 135 runs for a win, the third Test at Lord's looks interestingly poised.
The visitors suffered a dramatic top-order slump after dismissing England for just 192 in their second innings, with off-spinner Washington Sundar taking 4-22, including the wickets of Joe Root, Jamie Smith and England captain Ben Stokes on the fourth day.
India needed 193 to go 2-1 up in this five-match series after both teams made 387 in their first innings. But the visitors saw a collapse as they ended day four at 58-4.
“That last hour made it amazing. Everyone was invested, the crowd was behind the team. The buzz around the ground gave the boys a lift,” England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick said.
“It will revolve around the first hour tomorrow. How positive India are, how dominant India will be.” But it was his clear statement of intent that raised eyebrows: “Hopefully we will get six wickets in the first hour tomorrow,” he added.
Yashasvi Jaiswal was out for a duck, skying a hook off express fast bowler Jofra Archer to wicketkeeper Smith.
Karun Nair was lbw to Brydon Carse with India captain Shubman Gill, who has already scored a double hundred and two centuries this series, falling in similar fashion.
And in the last over of the day's play, Stokes bowled nightwatchman Akash Deep to raucous cheers from the home crowd.
But India opener KL Rahul, fresh from his first-innings score of exactly 100, was still there on 33 not out following several typically elegant boundaries.
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