On this day in 2021: India clinch famous Test win at Lord’s

In the second Test at Lord’s on August 16, 2021, India’s lower-order batters put on an outstanding display to thrash the hosts England by 151 runs. The magnificent win helped the Indian side take a 1-0 lead in the five-match Test series. On the final day, England was bowled out for 120 while chasing a target of 272, giving in to the constant pressure exerted by the Indian bowling attack.

India got off to the best possible start when Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Rory Burns for a four-ball duck in the first over. Mohammed Shami then sent Dom Sibley walking back to the pavilion getting him with an unplayable out-swinger, as he too lost his wicket for a four-ball duck. Soon after tea, Bumrah picked up the crucial wicket of the then-English skipper Joe Root, who had been in great form, as Virat Kohli caught him on the slip.

Jos Buttler, who was dropped by Virat Kohli on two, briefly confronted to save his team from a loss and salvage a draw for the home team, but Mohammed Siraj (4-32) put an end to all hopes of such an outcome by dismissing both Buttler and James Anderson in the same over to give India their third-ever Test victory at Lord’s.

Earlier, India had declared on 298/8 in the second innings, thanks to an unbroken ninth-wicket 89-run partnership between Shami and Bumrah.  Continuing with a score of 181-6 from the night before, India quickly lost Rishabh Pant (22) and Ishant Sharma (16), both falling prey to Ollie Robinson, before Shami (56*) and Bumrah (34*) bravely disrupted the English attack.

Just before lunch, Moeen Ali bowled one over, and Shami took 10 runs off it, including a humongous six over midwicket that brought up his magnificent fifty. The England pacers attacked Bumrah with short deliveries, but he showed great implementation, reaping the benefits of a dispersed field with plenty of opportunities for singles.

In England’s final innings, Root ended as the top scorer for the hosts with a knock of a 60-ball 33 runs. As for India, four pacers and a spinner were deployed by the skipper, and though Ravindra Jadeja went wicketless, each of the four pacers got at least one wicket. While Siraj led his way with four scalps, Bumrah picked up three, Ishant Sharma picked up two and Shami added one under his belt to dish out the hosts’ batting lineup.