Day 3 of the India vs England 2nd Test at Edgbaston was an absolute rollercoaster!
After two days where India was clearly on top, England showed incredible fight and talent with the bat. However, India’s bowlers managed to keep things under control towards the end, making sure India still holds a very strong position. At the close of play on Day 3, India was 64 runs for the loss of just 1 wicket in their second innings, giving them a total lead of 244 runs over England. This exciting India vs England 2nd Test is now set for a thrilling finish!
India’s Strong Start to Day 3
India began Day 3 of the India vs England 2nd Test in a commanding position. They had posted a massive first innings score of 587 runs, thanks to Captain Shubman Gill’s incredible double century (269). England, in response, had struggled on Day 2 and were at 77 runs for 3 wickets. Everyone expected India’s bowlers to quickly wrap up England’s innings and extend their huge lead.
And that’s exactly what happened early on! India’s fast bowler, Mohammed Siraj, was on fire right from the start. He delivered two crushing blows, taking two big wickets in back-to-back balls! First, he dismissed the dangerous former captain, Joe Root. Then, on the very next delivery, he got rid of England’s current captain, Ben Stokes. This was a dream start for India and put England in deep, deep trouble. They were suddenly reeling at just 84 runs for 5 wickets. At this point, it seemed like India would quickly bowl England out and get a massive first-innings lead in this crucial India vs England 2nd Test.
England’s Stunning Fightback: Brook and Smith Lead the Way!
Just when it looked like England was about to collapse, two young batsmen, Harry Brook and Jamie Smith, came together. They showed amazing courage and skill, putting on a brilliant partnership that completely changed the mood of the India vs England 2nd Test. They defied India’s bowlers and launched an incredible counter-attack.
Jamie Smith was particularly outstanding. He is the wicketkeeper-batsman for England and played an almost perfect innings. He scored his century (100 runs) incredibly fast, taking just 80 balls! This made him the third-fastest England batsman ever to score a Test century, joining legends like Gilbert Jessop and Jonny Bairstow. His aggressive yet controlled batting was a joy to watch. Smith had also performed well in the first Test, showing he loves a challenge. By the end of his innings, he remained unbeaten on a magnificent 184 runs. This was a record in itself – the highest score ever by an England wicketkeeper in Test matches! He also surpassed New Zealand’s Ian Smith’s record for the highest score by a batsman batting at number seven or lower against India in Test history. Jamie Smith truly played a career-defining innings in this India vs England 2nd Test.
Exciting day in Edgbaston sees India extend their lead beyond 200 runs 👌#WTC27 | #ENGvIND 📝: https://t.co/Av3A67xTry pic.twitter.com/ByDF23l7PT
— ICC (@ICC) July 4, 2025
Harry Brook also played a fantastic supporting role, eventually scoring a brilliant 158 runs. He reached his century in the 51st over, off the bowling of Prasidh Krishna. Together, Brook and Smith built a phenomenal 303-run partnership! This stand was a record-breaker in many ways. It became the most successful sixth-wicket partnership for England against India in Test history. It was also the second-best partnership for England’s sixth wicket overall and the third-best sixth-wicket partnership against India in any Test match. Their partnership was so good that this India vs England 2nd Test became only the third Test match ever to feature two double-century stands for the sixth wicket or lower (the first being Shubman Gill’s partnership earlier in the match). England’s determination and brilliant batting kept them alive in the India vs England 2nd Test.
This incredible partnership allowed England to reach a total of 407 runs. They bravely batted through the entire second session and deep into the third session, frustrating the Indian bowlers who tried everything to break their stand. It was a true display of England Batting Fightback.
India’s Bowlers Strike Back and Consolidate Lead
The breakthrough for India finally came with the new ball. After 80 overs, the Indian bowlers got a fresh, harder ball, which gave them more swing and bounce. It was Akash Deep who eventually managed to get one past Harry Brook, dismissing him for 158. Breaking that massive 303-run partnership was a huge relief for India in this India vs England 2nd Test.
After Brook’s dismissal, England’s lower-order batsmen (the tail-enders) found it tough to handle the continuous pressure from India’s fast bowlers. Despite Jamie Smith’s heroic efforts at one end, the wickets started to fall quickly at the other. India’s seamers kept bowling accurate lines and lengths, eventually bowling out England for 407 runs.
India’s bowlers put in a great effort after the tough period. Mohammed Siraj was the star with the ball, finishing with brilliant figures of 6 wickets for just 70 runs. He showed why he’s considered one of India’s top Test bowlers. Akash Deep also bowled very well, taking 4 wickets for 88 runs. Their combined efforts ensured that India managed to limit England’s total and get a substantial first-innings lead of 180 runs in this exciting India vs England 2nd Test.
India’s Second Innings and Day 3 Close
With a healthy lead already in hand, India’s batsmen came out for their second innings looking to build a massive target for England. They started positively, scoring runs quickly. However, India did suffer an early setback as their aggressive opener, Yashasvi Jaiswal, was dismissed.
Despite that early wicket, India continued to push forward. At the close of Day 3 in the India vs England 2nd Test, India was 64 runs for the loss of 1 wicket. This means they have now extended their overall lead to 244 runs with nine wickets still remaining in their second innings.
What to Expect on Day 4 of the India vs England 2nd Test
Day 3 of the India vs England 2nd Test was a fantastic day of Test cricket. It started with India in control, saw an incredible England Batting Fightback that broke several records, and ended with India still holding a clear advantage.
Going into Day 4, India will be looking to bat quickly and score as many runs as possible to set a massive target for England. They will want to bat for at least one or two sessions to give their bowlers enough time to take 10 wickets. England, on the other hand, will be desperate for early wickets to restrict India’s lead and give themselves a realistic chance of chasing down the target. The pitch is still good for batting, so we can expect more runs and more excitement. This India vs England 2nd Test is poised for a gripping finish!
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