After an exciting day five on Tuesday, when the hosts reached a target of 371—the 10th highest successful run chase in the history of red-ball cricket—Ben Duckett’s outstanding century helped lead England to a spectacular five-wicket victory in the first Test match against India.
With openers Duckett and Zak Crawley easing their team to lunch on 117-0 in their second innings, England looked to be cruising to a remarkable victory after turning the tide of the match at Headingley after India had reached 430-3 in their first innings.
Before Crawley was dismissed for 65, Duckett maintained his dominant form with another four through the covers to achieve his sixth test hundred. Their 188-run partnership was the second-highest opening fourth-innings partnership for England in Test cricket.
India was pulled back into the thrilling match by two wickets in two balls from Duckett and Harry Brook, and England’s chances of winning were in jeopardy when Ben Stokes was dismissed for 33 while attempting an audacious reverse sweep.
The tension around his home field was reduced by Joe Root’s undefeated 53. Jamie Smith, who hit a six to complete the triumph, and the former captain saw England home as India, who had scored five hundreds in the match, nevertheless managed to begin the five-test series in a losing position.
