India Faces Pressure After England's Strong Bowling Performance in Third Test

Day Four Highlights: India Struggles in Run Chase

On July 13, during the third Test at Lord's, India found itself in a precarious position, ending day four at 58/4 while chasing a target of 193 runs. The English pacer Brydon Carse delivered a formidable performance, and a crucial wicket from Ben Stokes left India reeling.

KL Rahul remained at the crease with an unbeaten score of 33, but the early loss of four wickets has put immense pressure on the Indian side, with key players like Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja yet to bat.

England began their final session at 175/6, with captain Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes at the crease. Washington Sundar made a significant impact, dismissing Stokes for 33 runs, leaving England at 181/7.

Jasprit Bumrah finally broke through, taking two wickets in quick succession, reducing England to 185/9. Sundar capped off a stellar bowling performance by claiming Jofra Archer's wicket, helping to bundle England out for 192 runs in 62 overs.

Sundar's figures of 4/22 were outstanding, supported by Bumrah (2/38) and Siraj (2/31). Nitish Kumar Reddy and Akash also contributed with a wicket each.

In India's run chase, Jofra Archer struck early, dismissing opener Yashasvi Jaiswal for a duck, leaving India at 5/1. KL Rahul, who had recently scored a century, looked in good form, finding boundaries against Woakes and Archer.

However, Carse continued his assault, trapping Karun Nair lbw for 14 and later dismissing captain Shubman Gill for just six runs, leaving India in a dire situation at 53/3.

As nightwatchman, Akash joined Rahul, but just before the day's end, Stokes claimed another wicket, sending Akash back for just 1 run. India concluded the day with KL Rahul still at the crease.

Earlier, England had crawled to 175/6 at tea, with Stokes and Woakes unbeaten. The Indian bowlers, particularly Bumrah and Siraj, applied pressure but struggled to take wickets until Sundar broke the 67-run partnership by dismissing Joe Root for 40.

Despite some close calls, Root managed to survive and continued to build partnerships until Sundar's spin bowling forced England to shift from their aggressive style to a more defensive approach.

England had started day four at 2/0, and Mohammed Siraj quickly made an impact by dismissing Ben Duckett for 12. Nitish Kumar Reddy later took the wicket of Zak Crawley, who scored 22 runs.

Harry Brook contributed a quick 23 runs before being dismissed by Akash Deep. Earlier in the match, KL Rahul's century and Ravindra Jadeja's 72 helped India equal England's first innings score of 387.

England's innings included a century from Joe Root and significant contributions from Brydon Carse and Jamie Smith, who both scored fifties.

As the match progresses, India will need a strong performance to overcome the psychological disadvantage and secure a win.