Joe Root 180* helps England take first innings lead

England dominated the proceedings on day three of the 2nd Test match at Lord’s against India with Joe Root taking centre stage once again with a fantastic 180*. England started the day 245 runs behind, but Root’s monster century accompanied by important contributions from Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali helped the hosts finish their innings with a marginal 27-run lead over the visitors.

With the sun shining and the pitch flattening out, it was the best batting day of the series, and Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow made the most of the friendly conditions. India went wicketless throughout the morning session while conceding 97 runs as the two England batters capitalized on any mistakes from the seamers. 

With hardly anything on offer from the pitch, India resorted to short pitch bowling after Lunch until the new ball arrived. Shortly after reaching his first Test century in 19 innings, Jonny Bairstow fell into the trap as he gloved a bouncer from Siraj straight into the hands of Virat Kohli at first slip after a 121-run partnership with Root.

The England captain continued to accelerate after Bairstow’s departure and enjoyed a record-breaking day where he brought up his second consecutive century of the series and 5th ton of the year while also becoming only the 2nd English batter to pass 9000 runs in Test cricket. Root punished anything bowled on the pads or wide outside off-stump from the Indian seamers and shared two half-century partnerships with Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali to take England closer to India’s total.

At 341-5, the hosts were in danger of extending their lead and running away with the game. However, Ishant Sharma intervened with a couple of crucial blows that allowed India to get back into the contest. In recent years, Ishant has been incredibly effective against left-handers with his natural away swing, and the fast-bowler removed Moeen Ali and Sam Curran off identical deliveries that found the edge to give India a lifeline.

Root’s tactic changed with the tailenders at the crease, and the England captain motored through the gears as he took the hosts past India’s first innings total of 364. It was a tough day’s cricket on the field for India and after a barrage of no-balls from Jasprit Bumrah – including 5 in one over – the visitors finally bowled England out off the final delivery before stumps.

With England taking a 27-run lead, the match is nicely poised heading into day 4 as both sides look to take a 1-0 lead in the series.