Jofra Archer marked a dream return to international red-ball cricket with a match haul of five wickets and a spectacular one-handed catch as England edged India by 22 runs at Lord’s to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match ENG vs IND 2025 Test series.

Featuring in his first red-ball game for England in over four years, the Rajasthan Royals pacer proved he had not lost his edge, finishing with 5/107 across two innings and igniting a final-day collapse that saw India bundled out for 170 in pursuit of 193.

It was a vintage Archer performance – full of pace, menace and match-turning moments. He removed his Rajasthan Royals team-mate Yashasvi Jaiswal in both innings and delivered one of the balls of the match to castle Rishabh Pant on the final morning - a 144 kmph delivery that sent the off stump walking.

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He followed it up with a moment of athletic brilliance, diving to his right to complete a one-handed return catch and dismiss Washington Sundar for a duck.

Archer picked 2/52 in the first innings and 3/55 in the second. His wickets helped England take six scalps on Day 5 to seal the victory.

Earlier, England had posted 387 in their first innings, with India matching that total to set up a tight contest.

Archer gave little away in the first innings, conceding just 2.22 runs per over. He backed it up with sustained pace, averaging 145.3 kmph in a fiery spell - his second-fastest in home Tests.

England’s second innings total of 192 proved just enough.

It was a perfect return to the Lord’s for Archer, who had made his memorable Test debut at this very same venue in 2019 during the Ashes against Australia. This was also Archer’s first appearance in the format since February 2021.

The right-arm quick also produced some of the quickest deliveries of IPL 2025 while playing for RR. He also finished the season as the team’s joint highest wicket-taker with 11 scalps.

The fourth and fifth Tests of the series are scheduled at Old Trafford (July 23–27) and The Oval (July 31–August 4), respectively.