London | Indian batters failed to stand the test of England pacers led by Jofra Archer on a spicy day five pitch to slide to the brink of defeat in the third Test at Lord's here on Monday.
Chris Woakes had Nitish Reddy caught behind at the stroke of lunch to leave India tottering at 112 for eight chasing 193.
Starting the day at 58 for four and needing another 135 runs on a rapidly deteriorating surface with variable bounce, India needed their experienced batters to fire for their fourth success at the iconic ground since 1932 but it was not to be.
The loss of Rishabh Pant (9 off 12 balls), K L Rahul (39 off 58) and Washington Sundar (0 off 4) inside the first hour made chasing 193 an improbable task for India.
The key for India was the presence of Rahul and Pant in the middle but both departed in a space of 18 balls. They needed to see out Archer's spell but the tearaway pacer struck twice in a fiery spell to put England on top.
Pant, who injured his left index finger while keeping on day one, clearly looked in discomfort facing the extreme pace of Archer, wincing his hand in pain every time the ball hurried on to his bat.
Pant tried his best to make a difference, collecting a couple of fours via a flick and a one-handed drive off the Barbados-born bowler.
Archer, making a Test comeback after more than four years, flaunted his X-factor once again as he produced a beauty to send back a half-fit Pant back into the dressing room.
The ball straightened just enough from the angle to shatter Pant's off-stump.
Considering the occasion and the high intensity of players from both teams, it was not a surprise to see Archer having a quick word to Pant as the wicket-keeper started his long walk back to the players' balcony via the legendary Long Room.
Rahul, at the other end, needed to hold the innings together but when he departed three overs after Pant's dismissal, the writing was on the wall.
England captain Ben Stokes bowled his heart out from the Nursery End and got the all important wicket of the in-form Rahul with a ball that seamed back profusely to trap him lbw.
The on-field umpire thought the ball was not hitting the stumps but Stokes got the decision overturned, drawing a loud roar from the crowd, through the DRS.
The grounds have witnessed packed crowds on all days of the three Tests held so far and despite being a Monday morning, a sea of England and Indian fans queued up outside the Lord's hours before play.
With the last batting pair of Ravindra Jadeja and Reddy in the centre, India struggled to 95 for seven after the first hour of play, with another 98 runs needed.
With pitch playing tricks, Jadeja and Reddy looked to defend rather than counter attacking. Stokes, the warrior that he is, bowled a nine-over spell.
Scoreboard at lunch on fifth day of the third Test between India and England here on Monday.
England 1st Innings: 387
India 1st Innings: 387
England 2nd Innings: 192
India 2nd Innings (Overnight 58/4 in 17.4 overs)
Yashasvi Jaiswal c Smith b Archer 0
KL Rahul lbw b Stokes 39
Karun Nair lbw b Carse 14
Shubman Gill lbw b Carse 6
Akash Deep b Stokes 1
Rishabh Pant b Archer 9
Ravindra Jadeja batting 17
Washington Sundar c&b Archer 0
Nitish Kumar Reddy c Smith b Woakes 13
Extras: 13 (lb-5, w-5, nb-3)
Total: 112/8 in 39.3 overs
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-41, 3-53, 4-58, 5-71, 6-81, 7-82, 8-112 Bowling: Chris Woakes 6.3-3-11-1, Jofra Archer 10-0-41-3, Ben Stokes 14-1-34-2, Brydon Carse 9-1-21-2.
