Day 3 of the 3rd Test at Lord's proved to be a riveting contest, leaving the match incredibly poised heading into the final two days. Both teams finished their first innings with identical scores of 387, setting up a thrilling second innings shoot-out.

Here's a session-by-session breakdown:

Morning Session:

  • India's Batting Dominance: India started the day at 145/3, with KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant at the crease. This session largely belonged to India as Rahul continued his stellar form, reaching his second century at Lord's. Rishabh Pant played a characteristically aggressive knock, reaching a brisk fifty despite an injured finger. Their partnership of 141 runs for the fourth wicket significantly chipped away at England's lead and set a strong foundation.

  • Moment of Shift (SOS): Just before lunch, a crucial turning point occurred when Rishabh Pant was unfortunately run out for 74. While looking for a quick single to get Rahul on strike (who was on 98), Ben Stokes' direct hit from cover point caught Pant short. This was a massive wicket for England and somewhat dampened India's momentum heading into the break.

Afternoon Session:

  • England's Comeback: Soon after lunch, KL Rahul, having reached his century, was dismissed by Shoaib Bashir. This brought Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravindra Jadeja to the crease. England's bowlers, particularly Jofra Archer, bowled with pace and intensity, trying to exploit the fresh batters. Shoaib Bashir's finger injury further complicated things for England, as their primary spin option was sidelined.

  • India's Resilience: Despite the quick wickets, Jadeja and Reddy showed grit, forming a valuable 72-run partnership. They survived a few close calls, including run-out chances. Jadeja, in particular, looked solid, reaching his third consecutive Test fifty.

  • SOS: Ben Stokes provided another crucial breakthrough for England, dismissing Nitish Kumar Reddy. This wicket exposed India's lower order.

Evening Session:

  • England's Late Surge: With Jadeja and Washington Sundar at the crease, India aimed to take a lead. They managed to add some valuable runs, with Jadeja continuing to frustrate England with his resolute batting. However, Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer then struck crucial blows. Woakes dismissed Jadeja for 72 and also got Jasprit Bumrah out for a duck, while Archer removed Washington Sundar. India lost their last four wickets for just 11 runs, leading to them being bundled out for 387, exactly matching England's first innings total.

  • The Heated Finish (SOS): With only one over remaining in the day, England's openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, came out to bat. What followed was a highly contentious period. Crawley engaged in time-wasting tactics, pulling out of his stance and even calling for the physio, visibly frustrating the Indian camp, especially captain Shubman Gill. This led to heated exchanges and sarcastic applause from the Indian players. England eventually survived the over, scoring 2 runs without loss.

Which team has the upper hand?

Currently, the match is finely poised, with neither team having a significant upper hand. The identical first-innings scores underscore how evenly contested this Test has been.

  • England's Advantage: They have a slender 2-run lead and, more importantly, all their second-innings wickets intact. They managed to blunt India's late-innings charge and ensure the scores were level. The controversy at the end of Day 3 also indicates a mental edge they might feel they gained by frustrating India.

  • India's Advantage: India's bowlers, especially Jasprit Bumrah, looked fired up at the end of Day 3. They will be eager to make early inroads on Day 4. India's batting performance in the first innings, led by Rahul, Pant, and Jadeja, showed they have the capability to put up strong totals. The pitch is also showing signs of wear, which could bring India's spinners into play later in the match