Ben Stokes Shines as England Edge India in Lord’s Thriller

The last day of the third Test match at Lord’s, London, on July 14, 2025, delivered a thrilling conclusion to a tightly contested battle between England and India in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. With India resuming at 58/4, needing 135 runs to chase 193, and England requiring six wickets to clinch victory, the stage was set for a dramatic finale. The day unfolded with intense moments, heroic resistance, and pivotal performances, culminating in England securing a 22-run victory, taking a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Ben Stokes, with his all-round brilliance, earned the Player of the Match award, while Ravindra Jadeja’s defiant unbeaten 61 kept India in the hunt until the final moments.

Ravindra Jadeja Kept India Alive in the Run Chase

The day began with India at 58/4 after 17.4 overs, with KL Rahul (33) and nightwatchman Akash Deep (1) at the crease. England’s bowlers, led by captain Ben Stokes, came out with a clear plan to exploit the early morning conditions at Lord’s. The pitch, described as sluggish but with some pace on Day 5, favored England’s seamers, who bowled with discipline and pace.

Archer struck in the 20th over, dismissing Rishabh Pant for 9 (12 balls, 2 fours, SR 75.00). Pant, who had been a key figure with 74 in India’s first innings, was undone by a fiery delivery that beat him for pace and crashed into the stumps, leaving India at 71/5. This was a massive blow, as Pant’s aggressive batting could have shifted the momentum. England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick had identified Pant and Rahul as the batters likely to determine the match’s fate, and his dismissal tilted the scales.

Stokes, bowling a marathon spell, then trapped Rahul lbw for 39 (58 balls, 6 fours, SR 67.24) in the 23.5th over. Rahul’s patient knock ended after a successful DRS review by England, with the ball shown to be hitting the stumps. This reduced India to 81/6, with the required runs still at 112. Stokes’ figures of 3/48 from 24 overs showcased his relentless effort, as he bowled through physical strain to lead from the front.

Washington Sundar, promoted as a nightwatchman, fell for a four-ball duck, caught and bowled by Archer in the 24th over (82/7). India’s batting depth was now under severe pressure, with Ravindra Jadeja (12*) and Nitish Kumar Reddy at the crease. The morning session ended with India at 95/7 after 29 overs, needing 98 runs. England’s seamers, particularly Stokes and Archer (3/55 from 16 overs), had dominated, with Brydon Carse (2/30 from 16 overs) and Woakes (1/21 from 12 overs) maintaining tight lines. India’s run rate crawled at 2.27, reflecting the pressure of the chase.

After lunch, India reached 100 runs in 31.6 overs, with Jadeja (17) and Reddy (3) battling to stabilise the innings. The pair added 30 runs for the eighth wicket, with Jadeja showing composure against England’s relentless attack. However, Woakes struck in the 39.3rd over, dismissing Reddy for 13 (53 balls, 1 four, SR 24.52), caught by Jamie Smith behind the stumps. India were 112/8, still needing 81 runs, and England sensed victory.

Jadeja, now partnered by Jasprit Bumrah, began a gritty fightback. Jadeja’s approach was a blend of caution and calculated aggression, ensuring India didn’t collapse immediately. The duo survived until drinks, with India at 137/8 after 53 overs, needing 56 runs. Jadeja reached his fifty off 150 balls (4 fours, 1 six, SR 33.70), a defiant knock that kept India’s hopes alive. His ability to rotate the strike and pick singles, especially against Stokes’ probing spells, frustrated England. Bumrah, known more for his bowling, showed remarkable resilience, facing 54 balls for 5 runs (1 four, SR 9.25).

The tea break saw India at 163/9 in 70 overs, with Jadeja (56) and Mohammed Siraj (2) needing 30 runs. Bumrah’s marathon 54-ball vigil ended in the 61.3rd over, caught by substitute fielder Sam Cook off Stokes for 5, leaving India at 147/9. The ninth-wicket stand of 35 runs had consumed 22 overs, frustrating England and giving India a glimmer of hope. Jadeja’s soft-handed play and occasional boundaries, including a lofted cover drive, kept the scoreboard ticking.

The final session was a test of endurance. Jadeja, unbeaten on 61 (181 balls, 4 fours, 1 six), marshalled the tail, with Siraj (4 off 30 balls, SR 13.33) hanging on doggedly. England, needing just one wicket, turned to Bashir, who bowled with a strapped-up hand. In the 74.5th over, Bashir delivered the decisive blow, dismissing Siraj with a full, straight delivery that crashed into the stumps. India were bowled out for 170, falling 22 runs short. Bashir’s 1/6 from 5.5 overs, including the match-winning wicket, capped a heroic effort.

England’s victory was built on their bowlers’ discipline and Stokes’ all-round heroics. Stokes’ 3/48 in the second innings, coupled with his 44 and 33 in the two innings and 2/63 in India’s first, earned him the Player of the Match award. His 24-over spell on Day 5, despite physical exhaustion, was pivotal, as he dismissed Rahul, Deep, and Bumrah. Archer’s 3/55, including the scalps of Jaiswal, Pant, and Sundar, marked a triumphant return, with his pace touching 94 mph. Carse’s 2/30 and Woakes’ 1/21 ensured India couldn’t build partnerships, while Bashir’s final wicket sealed the deal.

For India, Jadeja’s unbeaten 61 was a masterclass in defiance, though it couldn’t prevent defeat. His 72 in the first innings and fielding efforts underscored his value. Rahul’s 39 and Pant’s 9 were brief but showed intent, while Bumrah’s 35-run stand with Jadeja delayed the inevitable. India’s captain, Shubman Gill, later called Pant’s run-out in the first innings (74) a turning point, as it disrupted a strong platform at 248/3. Gill, despite scoring only 6 in the second innings, remained proud of his team’s fight.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Day

Being the TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game, Jofra Archer’s stunning dismissal of Washington Sundar on Day 5 of the third Test at Lord’s on July 14, 2025, shifted the momentum firmly in England’s favour. With India at 82/7, chasing 193, Sundar, sent in as a nightwatchman, faced just 4 balls before Archer’s brilliance ended his stay. In the 24.4th over, Archer delivered a full-length ball, tailing into Sundar’s toes. Sundar, attempting a clip to the leg side, miscued it, sending a looping leading edge back toward the bowler.

Archer, showcasing incredible athleticism, dived in his follow-through, tumbling across the turf while clutching the ball one-handed with his right arm. The catch, completed as he rolled on impact, left the Lord’s crowd roaring. Sundar’s duck (0 off 4 balls, SR 0.00) marked India’s seventh wicket, deepening their crisis with 111 runs still needed. Archer’s 3/55 in 16 overs, including this pivotal wicket, highlighted his return to Test cricket after four years, with his pace and movement proving unplayable.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

Ravindra Jadeja, the TCNI’s Hero of the Day, delivered a heroic performance with an unbeaten 61 off 181 balls in India’s second innings, chasing 193 on Day 5 of the third Test against England at Lord’s on July 14, 2025. With India reeling at 81/6, needing 112 runs, Jadeja’s gritty knock (4 fours, 1 six, SR 33.70) kept their hopes alive. Facing England’s fiery attack, led by Ben Stokes (3/48) and Jofra Archer (3/55), he showed remarkable resilience, reaching his fifty off 150 balls.

Jadeja’s partnerships, notably a 35-run stand with Jasprit Bumrah (5 off 54) for the ninth wicket, frustrated England for 22 overs. His calm defence and occasional drives, like a lofted cover boundary, pushed India to 170 in 74.5 overs, falling just 22 runs short. Despite the loss, Jadeja’s 266-minute vigil on a pitch with seam movement was a masterclass in determination. Supported by 18 extras (9 lb, 3 nb, 6 w), his effort nearly pulled off a miracle. England’s bowlers, including Brydon Carse (2/30) and Shoaib Bashir (1/6), eventually sealed the 22-run victory.