KEY POINTS
- England chased down a daunting 371-run target to beat India by five wickets
- Ben Duckett’s brilliant 149 anchored England’s record-setting fourth-innings chase
- This was the fifth 300+ run chase at Headingley and the second-highest on a Test’s final day
LEEDS, England: England chased down a mammoth 371-run target to defeat India by five wickets in the first Test of the five-match series, taking a 1-0 lead with a dominant batting display on the final day.
Opening batter Ben Duckett led the charge with a scintillating 149, earning him the Player of the Match award.
His 188-run partnership with Zak Crawley (65) laid the foundation for England’s historic chase at Headingley.
Joe Root (55), Ben Stokes (33), and Jamie Smith (unbeaten 44) contributed crucial runs in the middle and lower order to see the hosts home at 373/5.
India’s bowlers struggled to make an impact on a flattening Day 5 pitch. Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur picked up two wickets apiece, but the attack lacked penetration against England’s aggressive approach.
This victory marks the fifth successful chase of over 300 runs in the fourth innings of a Test at Leeds, making it the only venue with more than two such chases — a remarkable feat in Test cricket history.
The 350-run target chased by England is now the second-highest successful run chase on the final scheduled day of a Test match, behind Australia’s iconic 404-run chase at the same ground in 1948.
Match Summary:
India: 471 & 364
England: 465 & 373/5
Result: England won by 5 wickets
Player of the Match: Ben Duckett (62 & 149)
England now carry momentum into the second Test, while India must regroup quickly after letting a strong position slip away on Day 5 in Leeds.
