England produced a masterclass in fourth-innings batting as they hunted down a daunting target of 371 on Day 5 at Headingley, clinching their second-highest successful run chase in Test history to take a 1-0 lead in the series against India.
Ben Duckett was the architect of the chase with a sublime 149, laying the foundation alongside Zak Crawley (65) in a commanding 188-run opening partnership that blunted India’s bowling attack and set the tone for the day.
Though India struck back in patches — particularly in the rain-extended second session where they picked up four wickets — the hosts never allowed the momentum to shift entirely. Joe Root (53*) and debutant Jamie Smith (44*) shepherded the chase in the final session with calm authority, adding 71 unbroken runs to guide England home.
Duckett, Crawley Set the Tone
The final day began with England needing over 200 runs on a tricky surface. Duckett and Crawley were watchful early on, navigating the probing lines from Prasidh Krishna and Jasprit Bumrah. But once settled, the duo began to accelerate. Duckett, in particular, punished anything short, while Crawley unfurled elegant drives through the off-side.
The pair brought up the century stand just before lunch and maintained the tempo afterward. Duckett’s aggressive approach — particularly his use of the reverse sweep against Ravindra Jadeja — unsettled the Indian bowlers. Though he nearly fell in the 90s, a dropped catch by Yashasvi Jaiswal spared him, and he went on to notch his sixth Test century before falling just one run short of 150.
India’s Fightback Fizzles
India had their moments. Prasidh Krishna was the standout bowler, dismissing Crawley and Ollie Pope in quick succession with fuller, swinging deliveries. Shardul Thakur then dismissed Duckett and Harry Brook in back-to-back deliveries, briefly swinging the contest back in India’s favor.
Shubman Gill turned to Jasprit Bumrah in search of a breakthrough, but Stokes managed to keep him at bay. The Indian attack looked increasingly toothless as the game wore on, and their final review — used unsuccessfully against Root — left them without any referral options in the closing stages.
The fielding effort, too, left much to be desired. Jaiswal’s dropped catch of Duckett was one of several key moments that slipped through India’s grasp. The second Test is set to be a high-stakes encounter, with India needing to bounce back quickly — both tactically and mentally — to avoid falling behind in the series.
