Woakes, Bairstow bring India to their knees on eased out conditions

There are three ways to get up on the Lord’s honours’ board – grab a five-wicket haul in an inning, a ten-wicket haul in a match or score a century. Chris Woakes has done all three, becoming only the fifth cricketer, fourth from England to do so on Day three of 2nd India vs England Test match at Lord’s. Together with Jonny Bairstow, Woakes sent India into submission, helping England take a sizable lead o 250.

There are three ways to get up on the Lord’s honours’ board – grab a five-wicket haul in an inning, a ten-wicket haul in a match or score a century. Chris Woakes has done all three, becoming only the fifth cricketer, fourth from England to do so on Day three of 2^nd India vs England Test match at Lord’s. Together with Jonny Bairstow, Woakes sent India into submission, helping England take a sizable lead of 250.

When bad light brought an early end to Day 3, England were 357 for six. Woakes walked off unbeaten on 120 runs with Sam Curran batting on 22 not out.

Woakes came into the game after an injury-induced break and as a replacement for the in-form Ben Stokes.

Post-tea, Woakes and Bairstow (93) took their sixth-wicket partnership to 189 runs. They scored at a quick clip as Indian shoulders dropped and their spirits sank.

There was almost no fight as both batsmen marched towards their centuries in style. Woakes got there first, off 129 balls, as their 150-partnership came in just 219 deliveries.

Bairstow slowed down with the landmark in sight and paid the price for it with Hardik Pandya (2-66) nabbing him just short of three figures. Dinesh Karthik took a diving one-handed catch to the right to dismiss him.

Curran then came to the crease and started smacking the ball around. India took the second new ball as soon as it was due, but the players went off for bad light after just one over.

Earlier, Bairstow and Jos Buttler (24) took their fifth-wicket partnership to 42 runs. England crossed 100 in the 27th over, even as Mohammed Shami (3-74) and Ishant Sharma bowled brilliant spells.

Both batsmen played and missed a lot, with Bairstow in particular searching for timing as he played quite a few inside-edges that missed his stumps.

Shami finally got the breakthrough for India as he trapped Buttler plumb lbw in the 32nd over. With a lot of cloud cover, India still had hopes of reversal in this match at that point.

But Bairstow-Woakes defied them as the visitors severely missed a third full-time pacer to back up Shami and Sharma. Pandya tried but couldn't assert himself on the proceedings while Kuldeep Yadav was taken for easy runs.

In doing so, Bairstow brought up his 19th Test half-century off 76 balls. Soon afterwards, Woakes did the same and reached his fifth Test half-century off 71 balls.

England crossed 200 in the 49th over even as Ravichandran Ashwin (0-23) failed to provide any breakthrough. Once the lead crossed 100, Indian fielders' shoulders dropped and they played for the tea break.

This was after India put in a hard grind as England were reduced to 89 for four at lunch.

In response to India’s 107, English openers Keaton Jennings and Alastair Cook began the English innings and provided a decent start.

The opening pair stitched a partnership of 28 runs before Mohammad Shami took the first wicket for India. A full-length delivery from Shami went to hit Jennings pad and he was given lbw out.

5 balls later, Ishant Sharma gave another shock to the hosts from the other end. Former English captain Alastair Cook fell prey to his swing as the ball took a thin nick of the bat and landed safely in Karthik’s gloves.

How do you respond to a boundary? Wicket next ball. Ishant Sharma strikes and Alastair Cook gone. pic.twitter.com/rUoI4cnYjW

— Axiom (@1stAxiom) August 11, 2018

While England were reduced to 32/2, skipper Joe Root and debutant Ollie Pope took the responsibility of taking the innings ahead. While the captain displayed a patient batting, the 20-year-old youngster charged the Indian bowlers.

Both added 45 runs for the third wicket before Pandya claimed his first wicket in this series. In the 22^nd over, Pandya successfully removed Pope on 28 and with this wicket, the hosts not only lost another top-order batsman but also compromised all the reviews.

The lunch was called right after Mohammad Shami struck again and sent the hosts to backfoot as he removed captain Joe Root on 19.

Brief Scores:

India - 107 in first innings (Ashwin 29; Anderson 5/20)

England - 89/4 in 24.4 overs (Pope 28; Shami 2/27)