Washington and Carse light up Lord's as gripping finish looms

By Admin

14 Jul, 2025

The third Test at Lord’s has served up an instant classic, and as the sun sets over the iconic ground, all eyes are on the final day. India need 135 runs to secure a 2-1 series lead, but with only six wickets in hand, England remain very much in the hunt. A dramatic fourth day, marked by a gripping momentum swing and 14 wickets falling, has perfectly set the stage for an edge-of-the-seat finale.

Washington Sundar’s Magic with the Ball

The star of the day for India was Washington Sundar, who produced a magnificent spell of spin bowling to finish with figures of 4 for 22. His scalps included England's backbone   Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Ben Stokes, and finally Shoaib Bashir   triggering a collapse that saw the hosts lose their last six wickets for just 38 runs.

Sundar’s dismissal of Root was especially significant, ending a crucial 67-run fifth-wicket partnership with Stokes. Root’s 40 turned out to be England’s highest score of the innings, and the delivery that beat his attempted sweep and knocked over his middle stump was a thing of beauty. With this performance, Washington registered the best bowling figures by an Indian spinner at Lord’s since 1974.

India’s Bowlers Set the Tone Early

India began the day with controlled aggression. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj bowled probing spells, with Siraj dismissing Duckett and Pope early on. Nitish Kumar Reddy then chipped in by removing the dangerous Zak Crawley with a sharp catch at gully.

Harry Brook tried to counter with a brief flurry, including a six and two fours off Akash Deep, but the bowler had the last laugh by shattering Brook's stumps with a straight one. After lunch, spin took over, and Washington took charge.

England Crumble to 192 – A Lead of 193

Once Root fell, England’s innings lost momentum. Washington dismissed Smith and Stokes in quick succession, and Bumrah wrapped up the tail with precision yorkers, cleaning up Carse and Woakes. The innings folded for 192, giving India a target of 193 on a wicket now offering plenty to the bowlers.

India’s Chase Begins on a Shaky Note

The chase began poorly for India. Jofra Archer struck in the second over, removing the in-form Yashasvi Jaiswal with a top edge caught by Smith. The real damage, however, was done late in the day by Brydon Carse.

Carse bowled a sharp spell and accounted for both Karun Nair and Shubman Gill, who fell lbw to a delivery he failed to review successfully. The drama didn't end there. Ben Stokes got the wicket of nightwatchman Akash Deep with the final ball of the day, flattening his off stump and sending the English camp into celebration.

Tensions, Time-Wasting, and Theatre

The final half-hour had all the makings of a Test classic   mind games, reviews, crowd jeers, and tactical delays. When Akash Deep entered without gloves or an arm guard, Root led a vocal protest against perceived time-wasting, echoing the heated exchanges from the previous evening involving Gill and Crawley.

Carse nearly trapped Akash Deep LBW, only for the review to come back umpire’s call. More drama followed as the physio came out to apply strapping to the batter’s leg, delaying the game further. But England got their moment when Stokes struck before stumps.

The Stage is Set for a Grand Finale

At stumps on Day 4, India stand at 58 for 4 with KL Rahul holding fort on 33*. With just 135 more needed, the chase is doable but fraught with tension given the quality of England’s bowling and the pressure of the occasion.

Lord’s is ready for one of the most thrilling climaxes in recent Test history. Will Washington’s brilliance and Rahul’s composure guide India home, or will Carse and Stokes script a dramatic English victory?