6.13 pm: India are seven overs away from the second new ball. Ravindra Jadeja to start proceedings after lunch.

Correction: Jonny Bairstow has scored 22 Test half-centuries and not six, as mentioned earlier.

LUNCH

ENG 216/3 after 73 overs: A session that belonged entirely to England. Root (89 off 171) and Bairstow (51 off 91) have put the hosts in a promising position. India’s bowlers toiled away but couldn’t get much out of the tough conditions.

ENG 210/3 after 71.2 overs: FIFTY for Jonny Bairstow! He brings up his 7th half-century in Test cricket off 90 balls. The right-hander has batted positively and taken pressure off his captain.

And that’s the 100-run partnership between Root (83 off 161) and Bairstow (49 off 89). They’ve hardly put a foot wrong in what was a crucial session for England.

200 comes up for England. This has been a terrific partnership for the fourth wicket between Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow. India will be desperate for a wicket before lunch.

ENG 190/3 after 67 overs: Shami returns to the attack and concedes four runs in his 13th over. He was expensive in his first spell, despite not bowling too badly, and will be keen to make an impact here.

ENG 186/3 after 66 overs: Ishant replaces Bumrah in the attack and bowls a quiet over. He didn’t really steam in but managed to find that line outside off.

ENG 179/3 after 62 overs: Brilliant over from Bumrah. He really is putting in a big effort in challenging conditions. He beats Root’s bat, then sees an outside edge run past second slip for four, before getting another edge to fall short of the slip fielder. Superb line outside off and aggressive bowling.

ENG 173/3 after 59 overs: Four! Bairstow premeditates and plays a fine sweep off Jadeja. The left-arm spinner returns to nearly sneak one through to the stumps as the right-hander rocks back.

ENG 165/3 after 58 overs: Bumrah is in the middle of an impressive spell. He’s keeping it just outside off and trying to get that hint of movement both ways. Root’s seeing the ball like a football, though, and defending very well. Fascinating battle.

ENG 159/3 after 55 overs: Jadeja comes into the attack. Interesting move by Kohli. He perhaps wants to test Bairstow with left-arm spin. Not much turn on offer, though.

ENG 153/3 after 53 overs: Just a single in that over from Siraj. He did better and attacked the top of the stumps. England trail by 211 runs as Bumrah comes on to bowl.

ENG 150/3 after 51 overs: Shot! This time Bairstow drives it straight past mid-off. Too full from Siraj. England are moving along nicely.

ENG 144/3 after 50 overs: Two more fours for Bairstow! Another one past gully followed by a stylish on-drive. Shami hasn’t bowled badly but has been taken for runs.

ENG 132/3 after 48 overs: Expensive over from Shami as Bairstow picks up two fours. The first one was clipped past square-leg and the next one was thanks to a thick outside edge past gully.

ENG 124/3 after 47 overs: FIFTY for Joe Root! He gets to his 51st half-century in Test cricket off 82 balls. Another classy knock from the England captain. Siraj pitched it slightly wide and Root drove it on the rise past extra-cover for four.

ENG 120/3 after 46 overs: Just a single from the first over of the day bowled by Shami. England used a heavy roller this morning. Conditions look good for batting at the moment.

3.29 pm: The players are in readiness. It’s bright and sunny at Lord’s. Shami has the ball, Root on strike. Here we go!

3.25 pm: The ball is 45 overs old now but India’s bowlers will aim to make the most of the fresh pitch in the first four. Root is batting on 48 and his team trails by a massive 245 runs. It may sound like a cliche but today’s first session is indeed critical.

3.00 pm: Hello and welcome to live coverage of day three of the second Test between India and England at Lord’s.

England captain Joe Root’s latest rescue mission with the bat could not prevent India maintaining their grip on the second Test at Lord’s on Friday.

The hosts were 119/3 at stumps on the second day, still 245 runs adrift of India’s first-innings 364.

But amid yet another top-order collapse, star batsman Root was 48 not out.

Root had come in with England struggling at 23/2 after Mohammed Siraj took two wickets in successive deliveries – with the recalled Haseeb Hameed out for a golden duck.

Together with Rory Burns, Root repaired some of that damage in a third-wicket partnership of 85 before the left-handed opener was lbw to Mohammed Shami for 49.

Earlier James Anderson took 5/64 as India were dismissed after resuming on their overnight 276/3 having lost the toss.

It was the 31st time in 164 matches that Anderson had taken five wickets in a Test innings and the seventh occasion at Lord’s.

– AFP