What started as a tense final day turned into a memorable victory for England, thanks to a record-breaking opening partnership and a cool, composed finish from their star players.
Chasing a massive 350 on the final day of the first Test against India at Headingley, England pulled off one of their greatest run chases ever, winning by five wickets.
Crawley and Duckett Set the Stage With a Monster Partnership
Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett gave England the dream start they needed.
The pair weathered a tricky half-hour spell from Jasprit Bumrah the evening before and returned on day five looking confident and in control.
They put together a phenomenal 188-run opening stand, which set the tone for the rest of the innings.
Crawley eventually edged one behind to KL Rahul off Prasidh Krishna, but by then the damage had been done.
Duckett carried on in commanding style, going on to score 149—the highest fourth-innings score ever by an England player against India.
England Wobble, But Root and Smith Steady the Ship
India weren’t going down without a fight.
Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur struck back with quick wickets, removing Crawley, Ollie Pope, and then Duckett to give India a sniff.
When Thakur dismissed Harry Brook with his very first delivery, England were suddenly 269 for 4 at tea, still needing over 100 runs to win.
But calm heads prevailed.
Joe Root, ever the dependable figure in England’s middle order, cruised to 53 off 84 balls.
Partnering with Jamie Smith, who played a composed and fearless knock, the duo finished the job with an hour to spare.
Smith fittingly hit the winning runs, ending unbeaten on 44.
India’s Missed Chance and the Bowlers Who Fought
It was a gut-wrenching end for India, who had led the Test for long stretches and came into the final day with hopes of a win.
Krishna and Thakur each picked up two wickets, and Ravindra Jadeja added one to his tally.
But ultimately, their attack couldn’t stop the English charge on a flat final-day pitch.
Crawley and Duckett’s Legacy in the Record Books
That Crawley-Duckett partnership will go down as one of the most important in England’s Test history.
Not only did they lay the foundation for the win, but Duckett’s 149 also etched his name into the record books as the highest individual fourth-innings scorer against India.
What’s Next in This Thrilling Series?
England now lead the series 1-0, taking huge momentum into the second Test.
India, on the other hand, will have to regroup quickly, especially after letting this one slip away.
With both teams showing flashes of brilliance, the rest of the series is shaping up to be an absolute cracker.