Ben Duckett century guides England to Test victory against India on final day

By SABC Sport
24th June 2025

Ben Duckett scored 149 to lead England to a five-wicket victory in the first Test against India at Headingley as the hosts chased down a 371-run target in the final session on the fifth day.

Starting the day on 21 for no wicket, Duckett and opening partner Zak Crawley took England through to the lunch interval on 117 without loss.

The second session was more eventful as India roared back into the contest, breaking the opening stand, which had grown to 188, as Crawley was caught at slip off the bowling of seamer Prasidh Krishna for 65.

Prasidh then made a double breakthrough to bowl Ollie Pope to leave England on 206-2 before Joe Root buckled down and formed an important partnership with Duckett.

The left-handed opener went to his sixth Test hundred and eventually made his way to 149 before India again refused to lie down, Shardul Thakur getting Duckett for 149 and then Harry Brook first ball to leave the hosts on 253-4.

Captain Ben Stokes joined Root at the crease and the experienced pair brought calm to proceedings to put on a partnership of 49 before the skipper was out in the final session to spinner Ravidra Jadeja for 33.

Root and wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith then made sure there were no further alarms with an unbroken 71-run stand to see England over the line with Root 53 not out and his junior partner 44 not out.

England go 1-0 in the five-match Test series with the second match set to start on 2 July at Edgbaston in Birmingham.