England launched their five-match Test series against India with a statement win at Headingley, pulling off a record 371-run chase to secure a five-wicket victory on the final day. Ben Duckett was the architect of the triumph, scoring a sublime 149 that set the tone for England’s calculated and commanding chase.
Resuming on the final day at 21/0, England’s openers laid the perfect foundation. Duckett played aggressively from the outset, racing to a half-century, while Zak Crawley offered stability at the other end. The pair stitched together a historic 156-run opening stand—the highest ever in the fourth innings of a home Test for England. Crawley fell for 65, edging Prasidh Krishna after a brief rain delay.
India found renewed hope when Prasidh struck again, removing Ollie Pope for 8, and Shardul Thakur then dismissed Duckett for 149, followed immediately by Harry Brook’s golden duck. But that hope was short-lived.
England regrouped with Joe Root and debutant Jamie Smith steering the chase expertly. Root finished unbeaten on 53, anchoring the innings with classic control, while Smith’s quickfire 44, punctuated with a towering six to seal the win, showcased England’s deep batting confidence. The duo’s unbroken 71-run partnership ensured England reached the target in just 82 overs, closing at 373/5.
India’s bowlers struggled to contain England’s fluent batting. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj failed to make early inroads, while Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur picked up two wickets apiece but proved costly. Ravindra Jadeja toiled for 1/104, and misfields further compounded India’s bowling woes.
India’s batters had earlier dominated the first three days. The visitors racked up 471 in the first innings with centuries from KL Rahul (137), Shubman Gill (147), Yashasvi Jaiswal (101), and Rishabh Pant (134). Despite the massive total, England replied strongly with 465, thanks to contributions across the board, trailing by just six runs.
Pant added a second century (118) in the second innings, becoming only the third Indian to score twin hundreds in a Test match, as India posted 364 and set a target of 371. However, a bowling attack that once looked threatening crumbled under pressure on Day 5.
The match also entered the record books as the first instance of a team scoring five centuries and still losing a Test—India eclipsing the previous record set by Australia in 1928/29.
Brief Scores:
- India 471 & 364 (KL Rahul 137, Rishabh Pant 118; Josh Tongue 3/72)
- England 373/5 (Ben Duckett 149, Zak Crawley 65; Shardul Thakur 2/51)
- Result: England won by 5 wickets
- Series: England lead 1-0