Leeds [UK], June 25: Ben Duckett’s sublime 149 set the stage for a historic run chase as England chased down a stiff target of 371 to defeat India by five wickets in the first Test at Headingley. With this victory, England have taken a 1-0 lead in the five-match Test series.
Resuming Day 5 at 21/0, England displayed remarkable poise throughout the chase. At Tea, the hosts were comfortably placed at 269/4, thanks largely to a dominant 188-run opening stand between Duckett and Zak Crawley (65).
Although Ben Stokes (33) fell shortly after reaching 300—reverse-sweeping Ravindra Jadeja straight to Shubman Gill—England remained unfazed. Joe Root (53*) and Jamie Smith (44*) stitched together a calm and classy 71-run unbeaten stand, with Smith sealing the victory in style by launching Jadeja for six.
✅ Historic Partnership & Record Chase
- Duckett’s 149 off 170 balls was the innings’ cornerstone, laced with aggression, fearlessness, and immaculate shot selection.
- Crawley’s composed 65 supported the explosive southpaw in what became England’s highest-ever fourth-innings opening stand at home — 156 runs, surpassing the 154 between Boycott and Brearley in 1977.
- England finished at 373/5 in 82 overs, chasing down 371 with five wickets in hand — one of their greatest successful chases in Test history.
🏏 India’s Fightback Falls Short
India had their chances. Prasidh Krishna (2/92) and Shardul Thakur (2/51) provided breakthroughs, and India briefly clawed back into the match with four quick wickets across the afternoon session. However, missed catches—most notably by Yashasvi Jaiswal—and a lack of incisive bowling in the final session allowed England to take control.
Ravindra Jadeja finished with 1/104 and bowled the most overs, but without much support. Bumrah, though economical early on, couldn’t find his usual cutting edge in the final innings.
🧨 Duckett’s Missed Chance & Milestone Moment
Duckett was handed a lifeline on 97 when Jaiswal dropped a top edge at deep backward square leg — his fourth drop of the innings. The English opener made India pay, celebrating a memorable hundred soon after and taking England within touching distance of the win.
📊 India’s Historic Batting Feat in Vain
Despite the loss, India created a unique record: five Indian batters scored centuries in the match — Jaiswal (101), Gill (147), KL Rahul (137), and Pant (134 & 118). It is the most individual hundreds by a team in a losing cause in Test history, surpassing Australia’s four against England in 1928/29.
📝 Match Summary:
India: 471 & 364
England: 465 & 373/5 (Duckett 149, Crawley 65, Root 53*; Thakur 2/51)
Result: England won by 5 wickets
Series: England lead 1-0 in the 5-match series
With four more matches to come, the series promises plenty more drama. For now, England will savour a famous win, driven by one of the finest run chases in recent Test history.