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🔥 Jadeja Fightback Extends Lord’s Thriller
India came heartbreakingly close to pulling off a memorable win at Lord’s. Thanks to a brilliant Jadeja fightback, the visitors fought until the final session of Day 5. Jadeja remained unbeaten on 61, forming two vital partnerships with the tail. However, England held their nerve under immense pressure to secure a 2-1 series lead.
💥 England Strike Early on Final Day
India resumed Day 5 needing 135 runs with six wickets in hand. However, England’s bowlers struck quickly to swing momentum their way:
- Jofra Archer dismissed Rishabh Pant after two early boundaries.
- Ben Stokes trapped KL Rahul LBW, which was confirmed via DRS.
- Archer followed up with a sharp one-handed return catch to remove Washington Sundar.
As a result, India slumped to 82/7. The game appeared to be slipping away rapidly.
💪 Reddy Joins Jadeja in Steady Resistance
Nevertheless, debutant Nitish Reddy brought calmness to the crease. Alongside Jadeja, he helped stitch together a patient 30-run partnership. Their communication and running between the wickets looked sharp, especially considering their earlier mix-up in the first innings. Yet, just before Lunch, Chris Woakes removed Reddy to leave India still 81 runs behind.
👊 Bumrah’s Grit Complements Fightback
Despite being eight wickets down, India continued to fight. Bumrah joined Jadeja and soaked up the pressure with a determined 54-ball stay. Meanwhile, Jadeja chose his moments to attack—lofting Woakes for six and reversing an LBW decision via DRS.
The crowd, fully behind the duo, erupted when Bumrah pulled Archer for four. The pair added 35 valuable runs. However, just before Tea, Stokes finally got Bumrah with a well-directed short ball.
🎯 Bashir Seals It Despite Injury
After the break, Siraj showed similar resilience. Although he took multiple body blows, he stayed composed. Jadeja, on the other hand, brought up his fourth consecutive fifty of the series. Moreover, he refused easy singles to shield Siraj.
Eventually, England brought on Shoaib Bashir. The off-spinner, bowling with a fractured finger, broke through in his second over. He bowled Siraj to end a tense and dramatic chase five overs into the final session.
🚨 Bashir Ruled Out for Series
Bashir had injured his finger earlier on Day 3 while attempting a return catch off Jadeja. Although he returned to deliver the final blow, he has now been ruled out of the series. He is expected to undergo surgery soon.
Meanwhile, England are expected to name a replacement. Likely candidates include Jack Leach, Rehan Ahmed, Liam Dawson, or Tom Hartley.
📊 Match Summary
England 1st Innings: 387 (Root 104, Carse 56; Bumrah 5-74)
India 1st Innings: 387 (Rahul 100, Pant 74, Jadeja 72)
England 2nd Innings: 192 (Root 40; Sundar 4-22)
India 2nd Innings: 170 (Jadeja 61*; Archer 3-55, Stokes 3-48)
🧾 Result: England won by 22 runs
