INDIA TOUR OF ENGLAND
Jadeja and Reddy shared an unbeaten 62-run stand © AFP
One wicket, 68 runs and plenty of drama ensued as India made slow progress to 316/5 by Tea on Day 3 of the third Test at the Lord’s. Nitish Reddy (25*) survived as many as three run out scares in a chancy knock, and together with Ravindra Jadeja (40*) forged a crucial unbroken stand of 62 to bring England’s lead down to 71 runs in a slow-moving yet action-packed middle session once KL Rahul departed in its early moments.
Unbeaten on 98 at Lunch, Rahul got his second century at the Lord’s – and second of this series – quickly after the break but also departed the very next delivery he faced. After an immensely disciplined knock, a lapse in concentration cost him his wicket. Bashir lured him in with a flighted delivery, inducing a nick from the centurion to first slip where Harry Brook completed a low catch.
The two new batters, Jadeja and Reddy, had a few nervy moments to overcome in the middle. While Jofra Archer was convinced in his LBW appeal, and Nitish Reddy distracted by it, Jadeja tried to sneak in a single. Running towards the danger end, Reddy was nowhere in the frame when Ollie Pope, from midwicket, sent in an aimless throw with to the striker’s end no one backing up to collect it, thereby giving the Indian a lifeline. Reddy survived another run-out scare even before he could open his account. The allrounder set out for a single and was almost halfway down the wicket before turning back as Jadeja didn’t show keen interest. Had Pope again taken a moment to take a proper aim, Reddy would have been on his way for a 12-ball duck.
Jofra Archer cranked up his speeds to hit 150 kmph in the short spells, Brydon Carse challenged both the edges, Bashir injured his hand attempting a low return catch and England even went back to the short-ball tactic with the new ball, but the sixth-wicket pair saw through all of that to take India past the 300-run mark. Reddy got lucky a third successive time in yet another mix-up with Jadeja. This time, both the batters were mid pitch but Ben Duckett didn’t collect the ball cleanly to take a direct hit, allowing Reddy to get back in time.
Brief scores: India 316/5 (KL Rahul 100, Ravindra Jadeja 40*, Nitish Reddy 25*; Shoaib Bashir 1- 59) trail England 387, by 71 runs
© Cricbuzz
