KL Rahul’s gritty century helped India match England’s first innings total of 387 on Day 3 of the third Test at Lord’s, marking only the ninth time in Test history that both teams have posted identical scores in their first innings. At 387 apiece, this also becomes the fifth-highest such total, and each of the four higher ones ended in a draw. The previous instances of higher identical totals include:
- England and West Indies both scoring 593 at St John’s in April 1994
- West Indies and Australia both making 428 at Kingston in February 1973
- New Zealand and Pakistan both scoring 402 at Auckland in February 1973
- India and England matching 390 at Birmingham in July 1986
In the ongoing match, India’s 387 came through attritional and disciplined batting. Rahul made a superb 100 off 177 balls, becoming only the second Indian after Dilip Vengsarkar to score multiple centuries at Lord’s. Rishabh Pant added 74, battling a painful finger injury, while Ravindra Jadeja contributed 72 in typically composed fashion.
India’s lower order hung around but struggled to lift the scoring rate on a slow surface that is beginning to misbehave. With uneven bounce and some turn on offer, the challenge of batting last looms large.
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Tempers flared just before stumps when Zak Crawley delayed facing Jasprit Bumrah, prompting Shubman Gill and the Indian skipper to confront him, adding an edge to an already intense contest. With England leading by just two runs and two days remaining, the stage is set for a tense finish. Historically, teams involved in 390-plus identical totals have never lost. India will hope that pattern continues at a venue where Rahul has once again left his mark.
