 "Mohammed Siraj's dismissal by Shoaib Bashir resulted in India getting bowled out for 170 after being set 193 to win in the third Test at Lord's. Reuters")
The ongoing Test series between India and England witnessed its most intensely-fought battle so far in the third Test at Lord’s. After England cruised to a five-wicket victory in the series opener at Headingley and India responded with a dominant 336-run victory at Edgbaston, the two teams fought tooth and nail at the ‘Home of Cricket’ until the Ben Stokes-led hosts emerged triumphant by just 22 runs to regain the series lead with two games to go.
England, however, should have won the Lord’s Test a lot more easily, after collecting three quick wickets on Monday morning to reduce India to 82/7 from 58/4 in their chase of the 193-run target.
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In-form all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, however, rallied with fellow all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and the rest of the lower order to not only bring India back into the game, but to give their teammates in the dressing room as well as their supporters in the stands and around the world hope of pulling off miracle at the iconic ground.
Reddy was dismissed at the stroke of lunch, getting caught-behind off Chris Woakes’ bowling, while Jasprit Bumrah perished shortly before tea, getting a thick top-edge off a short delivery from Ben Stokes, resulting in a simple catch for substitute fielder Sam Cook.
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More ShortsSiraj’s dismissal brings back memories of Chennai ‘99
Mohammed Siraj, however, suffered the unluckiest dismissal of them all, blocking a tossed-up delivery from off-spinner Shoaib Bashir only to watch the ball roll on to the leg stump due to overspin and gently dislodge the bail.
Bashir sprinted off in celebration along with his teammates as a heart-broken Siraj sat on his haunches with a distraught look on his faces.
Watch the dismissal here:
Siraj’s wicket was reminiscent of the final dismissal in another thrilling Test involving India – against Pakistan in Chennai in January 1999. Just like Siraj at Lord’s, pacer Javagal Srinath was the last to depart. And incidentally, he was also bowled by an off-spinner – the legendary Saqlain Mushtaq in this case – with the ball also rolling on to the stumps after an attempted defence.
Watch:
India were also off to a shakly start after being set a target of 271 by the Wasim Akram-led Pakistan in that classic Test 26 years ago, losing their fifth wicket with just 82 runs on the board following Sourav Ganguly’s dismissal off Mushtaq’s bowling.
Sachin Tendulkar, however, would go on to produce one of the finest knocks of his career – a fighting 136 off 273 deliveries containing 18 fours – to bring India back in the contest. Tendulkar added 136 runs for the sixth wicket with wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia and 36 with Sunil Joshi until his dismissal – also off Mushtaq’s bowling – allowed the visitors to regain control and eventually pull off a thrilling 12-run victory.