England Seal Historic Test Win Over India As Ben Duckett Stars With Blistering 149 | Cricmatch365

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England Script History at Headingley With Record-Breaking Chase Against India
Cricket fans were treated to a thrilling spectacle as England chased down a massive 371-run target to win the 1st Test match against India at Headingley, taking a 1–0 lead in the five-match Test series. The star of the show was opener Ben Duckett, who smashed a brilliant 149 runs, leading England to one of their greatest ever Test wins.

Despite India’s dominance in the first three days, including five individual centuries, the final day belonged entirely to the English batters and their fearless approach.

Match Summary
India 1st Innings: 421 (Jaiswal 156, Gill 101, Pant 63)

England 1st Innings: 350 (Root 97, Duckett 68 | Bumrah 5/61)

India 2nd Innings: 299 (Rohit 132, Kohli 54 | Wood 4/49)

England 2nd Innings: 371/5 (Duckett 149, Crawley 72, Root 53*)

Result: England won by 5 wickets
Venue: Headingley, Leeds
Series Status: England lead 1–0

Duckett’s Knock Turns the Tide
Opening the innings with a tough chase ahead, Ben Duckett counter-attacked from the start, dominating ...
... both pace and spin. His strokeplay was fearless, yet calculated—showcasing sweeps, drives, and pulls with equal mastery.

His innings of 149 from 172 balls not only helped England neutralize the scoreboard pressure but also set the tone for the remaining chasers. Joe Root, playing on his home ground, supported him perfectly with an unbeaten 53, ensuring no late slip-ups.

India’s Five Centuries Go in Vain
Despite stunning performances with the bat from Jaiswal, Gill, Rohit, Kohli, and Pant, India ended up on the losing side. This marks the first time in Test history that a team has lost a match after five individual batters scored centuries.

India’s bowling lacked penetration in the final innings. Jasprit Bumrah—who was India’s top performer in the first innings—was underutilized on Day 5, raising eyebrows about the team’s rotation strategy.

Fielding also let India down, with several key chances going begging.

Experts React
Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar questioned the defensive field settings and Bumrah’s limited overs, stating: “You can’t win Test matches just with the bat. You have to take 20 wickets.”

Coach Gautam Gambhir later confirmed that Bumrah will be rotated throughout the series to manage workload, indicating that the long-term plan is being prioritized over short-term wins.

What’s Ahead?
The next Test match will be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham from July 3, 2025. India will be desperate to bounce back and square the series, while England will look to extend their lead and continue their dominant home record.

For more match updates, expert analysis, and Test cricket insights, visit Cricmatch365.