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Third Rothesay Test, Lord’s (day three of five)

England 387: Root 104, Carse 56, Smith 51; Bumrah 5-74 & 2-0

India 387: Rahul 100, Pant 74, Jadeja 72; Woakes 3-84

England lead by two runs

England’s tireless efforts were finally rewarded to leave a tetchy third Test against India hanging in the balance after three days at Lord’s.

In sweltering conditions, England took the last four India wickets for 11 runs to dismiss the tourists for 387, meaning the scores were level on first innings.

The home side looked set to be defied by Ravindra Jadeja, but after he was caught down the leg side by Chris Woakes for 72, England surged.

Woakes, so prolific on this ground, ended with three wickets, while Jofra Archer’s pace deserved more than the 2-52 he claimed on Test comeback.

In the lengthening shadows, Zak Crawley used some creative time-wasting tactics to ensure England faced only one over, bowled by Jasprit Bumrah. Tempers flared, England closed 2-0.

Earlier, opener KL Rahul completed a controlled 100 and Rishabh Pant made 74, while Jadeja shared vitals stands of 72 with Nitish Kumar Reddy and 50 with Washington Sundar.

As usual, England found inspiration from captain Ben Stokes. Stokes produced a stunning direct hit to run out Pant and, in a tireless spell after tea, found the venom to have Reddy caught behind.

Crucially, England had already missed three opportunities to run out Reddy and one to dismiss Jadeja.

Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir spent a prolonged period off the field with an injury to his left little finger.

This has been a curious Test, often characterised by a slow pitch, slow scoring and a slow over-rate.

The trench warfare has occasionally been interrupted by flashes of brilliance. On Saturday these came from Pant, Archer and Stokes. The words between Crawley and the India fielders in the dying moments provided the drama, demonstrating the high stakes of a tight game and level series.

For long periods, the day was shaped by the innings of Rahul and Jadeja, who separately but similarly ground England down.

But, once more, the Test sprung to life. If there was an element of fortune in Woakes having Jadeja strangled down the leg side, England were ruthless in taking the final four wickets in six overs.

Just as in their second-Test defeat at Edgbaston, England face an examination of their philosophy. Whereas in Birmingham Stokes’ team were not able to bat for the draw they view with such disdain, now they have the task of maneuvering themselves into a position from which they can win.

In such gruelling conditions, on such a docile pitch, it is to England’s credit they maintained their energy throughout the day.

Archer bowled some rapid spells in the afternoon session, at one point going 15 consecutive deliveries over 90mph, while Stokes bowled with similar hostility.

The captain’s run out of Pant came from nothing. In the final over before lunch, Pant was attempting to give the strike to Rahul to allow him to move to three figures. Stokes, in the covers, swooped and threw off-balance at the bowler’s end, catching the trundling Pant short of his ground.

England needed more of the same in the afternoon. Brydon Carse missed a shy at the stumps when Jadeja was on three, before Reddy’s triple reprieve. Twice he could have been run out on nought, Ollie Pope missing on both occasions, then Ben Duckett was off target when Reddy had 18.

The home side missed Bashir, who drew Rahul into an edge to slip. Jadeja, on 23, belted one back on the full, no more than a half-chance. Bashir immediately went for treatment and spent half the day off the field.

Woakes has a peerless record on this ground, yet this slow pitch has hindered his effectiveness. The wicket of Jadeja owed much to the diving catch of Jamie Smith, who has had a superb game behind the stumps.

India’s batters are torturing England in this series. This is their fifth consecutive total in excess of 350. From 145-3 overnight, 242 behind, India could have conceded a significant first-innings lead, yet end the day with the chance to put England under pressure on Sunday.

Rahul and Pant added 141 untroubled runs in the morning session before Pant engineered his own downfall. The left-hander was fit to bat after suffering a finger injury keeping wicket and, amid some careful defence, played his trademark flips, slaps and scoops.

For Rahul, a faultless century made him only the fourth overseas opener to make two tons on this ground. It was a rare lapse in concentration that resulted in the tame edge off Bashir.

India were in danger when Reddy joined Jadeja and, bar the chaotic running, the all-rounders edged the tourists towards parity. Reddy came through a nasty blow to the head off Stokes on 23.

England bowling coach Tim Southee, speaking to BBC Sport: “Pretty even. You toil away for three days and you sit here with a two-run lead. Looking forward to a two-day shoot-out.

India batter KL Rahul, speaking to BBC Sport: “I understand from an opening batter’s point of view, it’s something that happens a lot, quite a lot of theatrics at the end.

“I sometimes sit and think about if things have changed, but the only answer I’ve come to is that I’m just getting runs now. My mindset has always been the same, I’ve always been hungry to score runs, hungry to perform.”

Former England bowler Steven Finn on Test Match Special: “The end was great, you wait six and half hours of play for something as captivating as that.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino believes the Club World Cup is “already the most successful club competition in the world”, despite “some negatives” surrounding the tournament.

Infantino, who has led world football’s governing body since 2016, claims the competition has generated more than $2bn (£1.5bn) in revenue, which he says is worth “$33m (£24m) per match”.

As a result, he believes the tournament has been a “huge success”, adding “the golden era of global club football has started”.

Infantino’s words come just weeks after former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said the Club World Cup, which this year moved to the summer and expanded to 32 teams, was “the worst idea ever implemented in football”.

Many matches have been poorly attended, with more than a million empty seats during the tournament, while players like Jude Bellingham, Reece James and Enzo Fernandez have criticised the weather conditions and quality of the pitches in the United States.

Chelsea midfielder Fernandez said the heat was “very dangerous”, while his manager Enzo Maresca complained it is “impossible” to have a normal training session.

Speaking at Trump Tower in New York on the eve of Sunday’s final between Chelsea and Paris St-Germain (20:00 BST), Infantino said: “The golden era of global club football has started.

“We can say definitely that this Fifa Club World Cup has been a huge, huge, huge success. Of course, there are a lot of positives, some negatives.

“We respect everyone’s opinion. It has been successful. We have had over 2.5 million in the stadium. That’s around 40,000 spectators per match – there is no league in the world with that number, except the Premier League which, of course, has home teams and these are neutral stadiums.

“We heard financially it would not work but I can say we generated over $2bn in revenues with this competition. We earned on average $33m per match. There is no other cup competition in the world that comes close to $33m per match.

In New Jersey, where Sunday’s final – set to be attended by US President Donald Trump – will take place, temperatures have reached 38C in recent days.

Infantino accepted the high summer temperatures in the US are “definitely an issue” after Fernandez called on Fifa to consider player welfare before next summer’s 2026 World Cup.

Earlier this month, players’ union Fifpro said it believed Chelsea’s game against ES Tunis in Philadelphia, among others, should have been delayed or postponed because of the heat.

The World Cup is due to take place in the US, Canada and Mexico over the same period next year.

“Of course, the heat is definitely an issue,” said Infantino. “It’s an issue around the world. I remember it was the same in the Olympics in Paris and in other football games.

“The conditions need cooling breaks, watering the pitch and seeing how we can do things better. But we have stadiums in America that are covered and one in Canada in Vancouver which is covered, and we will definitely use these stadiums more during the day.”

England v Wales at Euro 2025

Venue: Arena St Gallen Date: Sunday 13 July, 20:00 BST

A place in the Euro 2025 quarter-finals is up for grabs when defending champions England and tournament debutants Wales go head-to-head.

It is their final match in Group D, and England will be heavy favourites when the two meet in St Gallen, Switzerland, at 20:00 BST on Sunday.

England, 25 places higher than Wales in the world rankings, know victory will ensure their progression to the knockout stages.

Fans have been flooding into St Gallen ready for the match-up between the two home nations, with plenty of talk in the build-up about their historic sporting rivalry.

England have never lost to Wales in 10 previous meetings between the pair, winning nine times and drawing once, the 0-0 stalemate coming in April 2018.

The Lionesses have never been beaten by a home nation at a major tournament either.

However, England defender Alex Greenwood said it would be just a “normal” game for her and she is not focused on the rivalry.

“Personally, it’s another game. It’s now the most important game we want to play,” said Greenwood.

“That’s how I look at it and that’s how I treat it. For the fans and everyone around it I think it’s brilliant.

The Lionesses got off to a disappointing start in Switzerland with a 2-1 defeat by France, but bounced back to beat the Netherlands 4-0 on Wednesday.

That win revived their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals and put their fate back in their own hands.

The talk from the Welsh camp suggested all the pressure lies with England as a result – but that didn’t seem to faze manager Sarina Wiegman.

Asked if Wales were trying to play mind games, she said: “Maybe, I don’t know. But we have our own preparations and we know also what’s on the line.

“We will try to do everything to win the game because we want to get through. There’s always pressure on England but we have that from expectations.

Wales captain Angharad James and manager Rhian Wilkinson believe all the pressure will be on England in St Gallen.

James said her side would love to spring an upset and knock the reigning champions out of Euro 2025.

As unlikely as a victory by a four-goal margin is, Wales would still relish a first win against a top 10-ranked nation, especially with England being their biggest footballing rivals.

“It’s a rivalry match and one everyone wants to play in,” she told BBC Sport Wales.

“The pressure is all on England. They have to perform. We believe we can upset a very top team. We are ready for the fight.

Wilkinson compared the rivalry with England to the one she has known during her career as a Canadian international when playing against the United States, but said England should write off Wales at their peril because her side have nothing to lose.

“It would be detrimental for them to look past us, but that’s their problem. I understand a grudge match with my neighbours. I can’t pretend there’s not history there,” she said.

“England are a top team. I’m looking forward to putting these incredible women out against them. The pressure is all on them. We know there is still a chance. What do we have to fear? It’s just an exciting opportunity.

“With England, of course there’s a storyline. I think everyone’s here for a reason. First for the women’s game, and secondly, why wouldn’t we go towards a rivalry?

“England will be forced to play a strong line-up because it is such a close group… so for my women, we get to show up and spoil the party, and that’s a wonderful job to have.”

Skipper James has a strong connection to their opposition because she is married to England international Amy James-Turner, but she claims her wife will be cheering on Wales.