After their twin lower-order implosions in the opening Test in Leeds, India fortified their batting depth even though it was the bowling group that had failed to defend 371 in the fourth innings. The decision to bring in Nitish Kumar Reddy (30) and Washington Sundar (23), both with all-rounder aspirations, was fuelled by a combined collapse of 13 for 72. 

The batting depth enabled the visitors to bat England out of the second Test in Birmingham. On Saturday at Lord’s, it was again the cynosure, Nitish and Washington helping Ravindra Jadeja (72) build on the platform provided by the top-order to leave the third Test in the balance on the third afternoon after the visitors tied their first-innings score with England at 387 all out. At stumps, England were 2-0. 

Solid partnership

Earlier, the said platform was laid by the overnight pair of KL Rahul (100) and Rishabh Pant (74), who stormed through the pain barrier, extending their fourth-wicket alliance to 141 before falling within 10 minutes of each other, either side of lunch. Rahul’s exit, caught behind a ball after bringing up his 10th hundred, left India still 133 runs in arrears with half the side back in the hutch. But Jadeja teamed up for successive half-century alliances with Nitish and Washington before being strangled down the leg by Chris Woakes after his third consecutive 50-plus score this series.