Jasprit Bumrah delivered another statement performance with his second successive five-wicket haul to drag India back into contention after Joe Root’s polished century anchored England to 387 on a sweltering second day of the third Test at Lord’s.
At stumps, India were 145 for 3, still trailing by 242 runs but buoyed by KL Rahul’s defiant unbeaten 53. He had Rishabh Pant (19*) for company as they looked to chip away at England’s lead in this pivotal Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy clash.
Bumrah’s 5 for 74 — his 13th five-wicket haul overseas — ensured England could not entirely run away despite Root’s 104, Jamie Smith’s enterprising 51, and Brydon Carse’s career-best 56. But the day ended with the 30-year-old quick sounding more weary than triumphant.
The reality is I was tired. There is no happiness or anything. I’m not 21 or 22, where I’ll jump around. But I was happy that I contributed. Other than that, it was just going back to my mark for the next ball.
Root, resuming on 99 overnight, reached his 37th Test hundred with a boundary off Bumrah from the first ball of the morning, moving past Rahul Dravid and Steve Smith on the all-time centuries list. “The most frustrating thing was getting to a hundred, then you should make it count,” Root said. “Disappointed not to kick on.”
England were 271 for 7 when Smith and Carse counter-punched with an 84-run partnership that frustrated India. Smith, reprieved on five by a regulation chance shelled by Rahul at slip, unfurled three boundaries each off Bumrah and Siraj. Carse grew in confidence, driving and pulling to a maiden fifty.
Bumrah, however, kept India in the contest with critical breakthroughs. He bowled Ben Stokes with a searing inswinger, then removed Root — dismissed by Bumrah for the 11th time in Tests—when a full delivery jagged in and took an inside edge onto the stumps.
Even as the ball softened and the bowlers toiled in oppressive heat, Bumrah’s skill stood out. He shattered Jofra Archer’s stumps with a delivery that kept low to complete his five-for before Siraj ended the innings by bowling Carse around his legs.
Yet Bumrah stressed that conditions made life harder than the scorecard showed. “Yeah, it’s hot out there. It’s tough on the bowlers,” he said. “There are new rules that you have to start the over within 60 seconds. That eventually will help, but sometimes you have to take into account the weather. We are human beings as well.”
India’s response began shakily as Yashasvi Jaiswal was caught behind for 13 and Karun Nair fell for 40, leaving Rahul to hold the innings together. The opener batted with patience, striking five boundaries in his 113-ball stay. “It’s a slow pitch. We have to be smart,” Root said of England’s plans. “If we can get six or seven quick wickets, we’ll be in a great position.”
With Pant at the crease and plenty of batting to come, the third day promises another absorbing chapter in this evenly poised contest.
Brief Scores: England 387 in 112.3 overs (Root 104, Carse 56, Bumrah 5-74) India 145/3 in 43 overs (Rahul 53*, Nair 40).
