🏟 Match Recap: Day 5 – 3rd Test, Lord’s – July 10–14, 2025
In a nail-biting finish, England clinched a 22-run win over India in the 3rd Test at Lord’s, claiming a 2-1 lead in the five-match Test series. The match reached its dramatic climax on Day 5 as Ben Stokes, leading from the front, delivered a vintage all-round performance to earn the Player of the Match award.
The final moment came when Shoaib Bashir, bowling with a fractured left hand, dismissed Mohammed Siraj to end India’s brave resistance at 170 in pursuit of 193.
📊 Match Summary
| Team | 1st Innings | 2nd Innings | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 England | 387 | 192 | 579 |
| 🇮🇳 India | 387 | 170 | 557 |
🏁 Result: England won by 22 runs
📈 Series Score: England lead the series 2-1
🏅 Player of the Match: Ben Stokes (ENG)
📜 Historical Context
- This is only the second time in Test history both teams scored exactly the same in their first innings.
- It’s England’s smallest margin of victory at Lord’s since 1982.
- First time a bowler with a fractured limb has taken a final wicket in a Lord’s Test.
🔥 Day 5 Highlights: A Classic Test Comes to a Close
🕘 Morning Session – Pressure from Ball One
India resumed at 58/4, needing 135 more runs. KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja steadied the innings initially before England's pace battery struck.
- Rahul (39) edged one to slip off Archer.
- Ashwin and Akash Deep fell in quick succession—Stokes dismissed Deep on the last ball of Day 4, sending Lord’s into a frenzy.
💪 Jadeja Battles Alone
Jadeja’s 61 off 181 balls was a masterclass in patience and grit. But with no support from the tail, he was left stranded as England turned the screws.
🎯 Bashir’s Magic Moment
With India needing 23 runs and one wicket in hand, Stokes gave the ball to Bashir, despite the spinner suffering a fractured hand.
What followed was pure drama:
Bashir bowled a sharp off-break to Siraj, who couldn’t defend. The off stump was rattled.
The entire England team exploded with joy as they secured one of their most iconic wins in modern Test cricket.
🧠 Why Ben Stokes Was Player of the Match
- 1st Innings: Scored 89 & bowled a key spell
- 2nd Innings: Took the crucial wicket of Akash Deep at stumps on Day 4
- Leadership: Smart bowling rotations, field placements, and bold decisions like handing the final over to Bashir
🎙 Nasser Hussain on Final Ball
“It’s done! It’s done! England win at Lord’s! And the man with one good hand finishes the job! This Test match will live forever!”
📸 Key Moments
- Jadeja’s slow but valiant 61
- Stokes’ roar after dismissing Akash Deep
- The emotional hug between Bashir and Stokes
- Stokes and Gill shaking hands after the final wicket
🔮 What’s Next?
The fourth Test will be played at The Oval, beginning on July 19, 2025. With England leading 2-1 and momentum on their side, India must fight back hard to keep the series alive.