Updated on
Summary England have consolidated their position on the third day of the first Test against India.
England have taken control of the historic 2000th match in the history of Test cricket due to some superb seam bowling by Stuart Broad and Chris Tremlett and have a wonderful opportunity to force a victory and a lead in the series.Such was their dominance that on a rather somnolent pitch -- which is too frequent at Lords -- they nearly forced India to follow-on. Indeed without a typically defiant innings from Rahul Dravid and some effective swinging from tail-ender Praveen Kumar they might well have. An unbeaten knock of 103 runs by Rahul Dravid guided India to reach 286 all out just before the stumps on the third day of the first Test, giving England 187 runs lead. Stuart Broad was the most successful bowler for England and claimed four wickets while Chris Tremlett took three wickets.England were 5 without loss in their second innings when the play ended on the third day. Andrew Strauss (3) and Alastair Cook (0) will resume their second innings on Sunday.
