India vs England 2nd Test, Day 3: Leading his side from the front Joe Root scored an unbeaten 180 to help England take a 27-run lead against India in the ongoing Test at Lord's on Saturday. Root, who kicked-off the proceedings on Day 3 along with Jonny Bairstow, completed his second ton of the series as England accumulated 391 in response to India's first-inning total of 364. 


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Root initially guided England past the 200-run mark and added a pivotal 121-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Bairstow, thus averting the danger from his side. 


Mohammed Siraj then broke the partnership as he dismissed Bairstow on 57. After his dismissal, wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler joined Root in the middle and the pair showed great intent, adding 50-plus partnership for the fifth wicket. However, Buttler's innings was cut short on 23 by Ishant Sharma, picking his first wicket of the match. 


Root, who stood tall in the middle, continued the fight for the hosts along with Moeen Ali as the duo guided England past the 300-run mark. The English skipper was playing on 132 as England put 314/5 at the end of the second session. 


Root continued England's fight after the interval and breached the 150-run mark to help his side take full control. The English skipper along with Ali added another 50-plus stand before the partnership was ended by Ishant.  


The Indian seamer then went on to remove Sam Curran in the following delivery. However, the dismissals didn't stop Root from going after the Indian bowlers as the hosts rode on his effort to take a lead. 


Among the Indian bowlers, Siraj scalped four wickets, while Ishant and Mohammed Shami returned with three and two wickets as Mark Wood was run-out.   


In other news from the match, star opener KL Rahul was attacked by the English crowd, who threw champagne corks at the Indian while he was fielding at the third-man position. Apart from this a pitch invader donning Team India jersey also disrupted the play for a brief period.  


Meanwhile, the hosts dictated the proceedings of the opening session on Day 3 and scored 97 runs without losing a single wicket as England reached 216/3 at Lunch. Root was then playing on 89, while Bairstow, who scored his first half-century in Tests since August 2019, was batting on 51.    


Root along with Bairstow resumed the England innings from the overnight score of 119/3 on Day 3. The English skipper, who scored a century in the series opener in Nottingham, looked in fine touch and found great support from his partner Bairstow, Buttler, and Ali to help his side gain complete control in the contest.