Credit: BCCI
The third day of the third Test in the five-match series between England and India commenced after veteran cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara ringed the bell at the iconic Lord’s in London. Earlier, England managed to put up a hard fought score of 387 on the scoreboard on day two in their first innings. Joe Root stayed patient on the field and maintained his composure on the pitch which helped him to score his 37th century. Quick half-centuries from Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse also played a crucial role in helping England to put up a competitive score on the board.
India’s first innings started on a good note as Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed three fours in the first over from Chris Woakes. However, Jaiswal lost his wicket to a peach of a delivery by Jofra Archer as he tried to defend the ball, but instead edged it to the cordon where he got caught in the second slip by Harry Brook. Archer marked a return to Test cricket in style after he was sidelined four years due to injury, and the crowd at Lord’s erupted in celebration with him. Karun Nair came into join KL Rahul at the crease, and he held his ground and was playing in a decent touch, but he too lost his wicket on 40 runs on the bowling of Ben Stokes with Joe Root taking a spectacular catch at slip.
Kl Rahul and Rishabh Pant built an exceptional partnership in excess of 100 runs on day three of Lord's Test
After two wickets fell, the captain of India, Shubman Gill, who has been in marvellous touch throughout the series, came to the crease. He tried to build a partnership with KL Rahul, but he was also sent back to the pavilion by Chris Woakes, edging the ball straight to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith. Called in many cricketing circles as India's Spiderman, Rishabh Pant, who has been in good form off late, made his way to the middle. He and KL Rahul frustrated the English bowlers as both of them scored fifty’s in some style, sharing a partnership of 141 runs either side of stumps on day two.
But, at the stroke of lunch on day three, Rishabh Pant lost his wicket on 74 runs as he tried to take a quick single, but got himself run out by the throw of Ben Stokes. KL Rahul reached his 10th Test century in 176 balls before losing his wicket on the next ball, to allow England to make a comeback into the third Test, and now, it will be interesting to see what lies ahead of us in the contest.
