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

I ndia 387 and 58 for 4 (Rahul 33, Carse 2-11) need 135 runs to beat England 387 and 192 (Root 40, Washington 4-22, Siraj 2-31, Bumrah 2-38)*

Washington Sundar’s decisive spell set India up for a 135-run chase on the final day of the third Test at Lord’s, but in a twist to an enthralling fourth day—during which 14 wickets fell—they only have six wickets in hand.

Brydon Carse removed Karun Nair and Shubman Gill cheaply to return impressive figures of 2 for 11 from four overs, and Ben Stokes bowled nightwatchman Akash Deep with the final ball of the day, as three wickets fell in the last half-hour of play.

Washington’s 4 for 22 included the key scalps of Joe Root, Jamie Smith and Stokes, before he claimed the final England wicket—Shoaib Bashir—as the hosts set a target of 193, following first-innings parity.

Jofra Archer struck early in India’s chase, when Yashasvi Jaiswal attempted to pull a short, wide delivery and top-edged it into the air above wicketkeeper Smith.

But it wasn’t until 30 minutes before stumps that England broke through again—Nair was flummoxed by Carse’s nip-backer and offered no shot as the ball struck the inside of his back knee. Gill, on 6, failed to overturn an lbw decision after being struck on the knee roll by one in line with middle stump.

When Akash Deep came to the crease—still needing to don his arm guard and gloves—Root revved up the crowd in protest at any perceived time-wasting, echoing Gill’s frustration in a heated exchange with Zak Crawley at the end of day three.

The situation moved from prickly to farcical to downright amusing when Carse rapped Akash Deep on the pads. He survived England’s review on umpire’s call with impact on the top of leg stump, and India called for the physio to strap the batter’s leg, eating up more time.

Nonetheless, England squeezed in one more over, and Stokes struck with the fourth ball—flattening Akash Deep’s off stump.

India’s bowlers had earlier started the day with great intent. Jasprit Bumrah troubled Crawley significantly without reward, and Mohammed Siraj bowled a miserly seven-over opening spell that yielded two wickets.

Ben Duckett was the first to fall, pulling to Bumrah at mid-on, amid a fiery send-off from Siraj that ensured tensions from the previous evening remained high.

Siraj then pinned Ollie Pope lbw—though it took an Indian review to confirm his dismissal for just 4 off 17 balls. Pope’s second-innings average now languishes at just 19.64.

Nitish Kumar Reddy replaced Bumrah midway through the morning session and removed Crawley for the second time in the match—this time to a loose drive outside off stump, taken sharply by Jaiswal at gully.

Harry Brook counterattacked briefly, ramping Akash Deep for consecutive fours before launching him down the ground for six. But his cameo was short-lived—he fell for a 19-ball 23 when, attempting to sweep a full, straight delivery, Akash Deep flattened his middle stump in the perfect riposte.

Enter Washington after lunch, as India turned to spin. He rattled Root’s middle stump with one that slid under the attempted sweep, breaking a 67-run fifth-wicket stand with Stokes. Root’s 40 ended as England’s highest score of the innings and broke his run of four fifties at Lord’s, which included three centuries on the trot.

Four overs later, Washington bowled Smith for just 8 with a quicker ball that didn’t turn but skidded past the outside edge onto off stump.

At that stage, England were 164 for 6 and subsequently became becalmed as Stokes and Chris Woakes looked to prevent further damage.

Stokes added only six more runs after tea before Washington struck again—beating the slog sweep and clattering middle stump to dismiss him for 33.

Bumrah was eventually rewarded with the wickets of Carse and Woakes—the former to a stunning, pinpoint yorker on leg stump, the latter to a delivery that expertly clipped the leg-side bails.

Bashir became India’s 12th bowled dismissal in the match when Washington beat his defence to close out the innings—completing an England collapse in which they lost their last four wickets for 11 runs, and six for 38 overall.

Washington’s 4 for 22 marks the best figures by an Indian spinner at Lord’s since 1974. (ESPNcricinfo)