NEW DELHI: KL Rahul’s costly drop of Jamie Smith proved to be a major turning point on Day 2 of the third Test at Lord’s. With England wobbling at 260/5, Smith walked in and offered an early chance—one that India couldn’t afford to miss. On just 5, Smith edged a Mohammed Siraj delivery to second slip, where Rahul failed to grab what looked like a regulation catch.Siraj had bowled a probing back-of-length delivery that straightened after pitching, inducing the edge. The ball flew comfortably to second slip, but Rahul, attempting a two-handed catch by his side, let it slip through his fingers. The visibly frustrated Siraj stood mid-pitch in disbelief.
The reprieve proved expensive. Smith, continuing his fine form in the series, capitalised on the chance to score a brisk 51 off 56 balls. He stitched together a crucial 84-run partnership with Brydon Carse, who contributed a valuable 56 off 83 deliveries—his maiden Test fifty.Thanks to the lower-order resistance led by Smith and Carse, England recovered from a Jasprit Bumrah storm to post a competitive 387 in their first innings.Bumrah, returning to the XI after being rested in the second Test, delivered a sensational spell on the second morning. He ripped through the middle order with a devastating seven-ball burst, dismissing Joe Root (104), Ben Stokes (44), and Chris Woakes (0), reducing England from 251/4 to 271/7. He later cleaned up Jofra Archer to complete his second consecutive five-wicket haul (5/74), and his 15th in Tests.Siraj (2/85) removed Smith post-lunch and later dismissed Carse to wrap up England’s innings.Earlier in the day, Joe Root brought up his 37th Test century, moving past Steve Smith and Rahul Dravid to climb to fifth on the all-time list of Test centurions—trailing only Sachin Tendulkar (51).Jamie Smith’s scores in this series continue to shine: 40 and 44* in Leeds, followed by a sublime 184* and 88 at Edgbaston. His 51 at Lord’s further cemented his growing reputation.With the five-match series level at 1-1 after India’s commanding win at Edgbaston, this Test at Lord’s remains finely poised.
