Test series: Jadeja defies England with help of gritty tail, in losing cause

In a heroic display of patience and courage, Ravindra Jadeja batted alongside India’s usually fragile tail, taking the visitors to 30 runs shy of the victory target of 193 at tea in an extended afternoon session on day five of the third India-England Test at Lord's on Monday.

That target eventually remained unachieved, as Jadeja ran out of partners with last man Mohammed Siraj (4 off 30) falling to Shoaib Bashir soon after play resumed after tea, handing England victory by 22 runs. Had Siraj held his end and Jadeja pulled off the remaining runs, this match would doubtless have found place among the greatest miracles of the game.

As it is, it will go down in cricket history as a match worth celebrating, not least for its scintillating finish.

Jadeja (56 batting off 162 balls) showed the stomach for a fight as he batted out the two-and-a-half-hour session with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj (2 batting off 20). India were 163 for nine at tea, collecting 41 runs in the session for the loss of Bumrah (5 off 54).

It was Jadeja’s fourth half-century in a row and came in the most trying circumstances, with India staring at a big defeat at 112 for eight at lunch.

In the morning, the match looked as good as over for India whose inexperienced batting line-up failed in its first major test and surrendered against the Jofra Archer-led England pace attack. The team, which batted brilliantly in the first two Tests, could not stand the test of Archer and Co. on a spicy day five pitch.

The outcome was a foregone conclusion when Chris Woakes had Nitish Reddy caught behind at the stroke of lunch to leave India tottering at 112 for eight chasing 193.

However, Jadeja’s steely effort created a glimmer of hope for India. Starting the day at 58 for four and needing another 135 on a rapidly deteriorating surface with variable bounce, India needed their experienced batters to fire for their fourth success at the iconic ground since 1932, but it was not to be.

The loss of Rishabh Pant (9 off 12 balls), K.L. Rahul (39 off 58) and Washington Sundar (0 off 4) inside the first hour made the chase an improbable task for India. The key was the presence of Rahul and Pant in the middle, but both departed in a space of 18 balls.

They needed to see out Archer’s spell but the tearaway pacer struck twice to put England on top.

Pant, who injured his left index finger while keeping on day one, clearly looked in discomfort while facing the extreme pace of Archer, wincing in pain every time the ball hurried on to his bat. He tried his best to make a difference, collecting a couple of fours via a flick and a one-handed drive off the Barbados-born bowler.

Archer, making a Test comeback after more than four years, flaunted his X-factor once again as he produced a beauty to send a half-fit Pant back to the dressing room, the ball straightening just enough from the angle to shatter Pant’s off-stump.

Considering the occasion and the high intensity of players from both teams, it was not a surprise to see Archer having a quick word with Pant as the wicket-keeper started his long walk back to the players’ balcony via the legendary Long Room.

Rahul, at the other end, needed to hold the innings together but when he departed three overs after Pant’s dismissal, the writing was on the wall.

England captain Ben Stokes bowled his heart out from the Nursery End and got the important wicket of the in-form Rahul with a ball that seamed back profusely to trap him LBW. The on-field umpire thought the ball was not hitting the stumps, but Stokes got the decision overturned through DRS, drawing a loud roar from the crowd.

Washington was the next to come in and he lasted only four balls, with Archer taking a sharp catch to his right off his own bowling.

The grounds have witnessed packed crowds on all days of the three Tests held so far and despite being a Monday morning, a sea of England and Indian fans queued up outside the ground hours before play.

With the last batting pair of Jadeja and Nitish Reddy at the centre, India struggled to 95 for seven after the first hour of play, with another 98 runs needed. With the pitch playing tricks, Jadeja and Reddy looked to defend rather than counter attack.

Stokes, the warrior that he is, bowled a nine-over spell. Reddy driving him through cover marked India’s first four in 80 balls, summing up their approach.

There is an eight-day gap before the start of the fourth Test in Manchester from 23 July. England won the series opener in Leeds before India made it 1-1 in Birmingham.

The series thus far has been a brilliant promotion of Test cricket with all games stretching to five days.

With PTI inputs