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England's Ben Duckett celebrates after scoring a century on day five of the first cricket test match between England and India at Headingley in Leeds, England, Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
India put up a fight but they ultimately fell short as England won the 1st Test match at Leeds on Tuesday to take 1-0 lead in the 5-match series. Riding on Ben Duckett’s century, Zak Crawley’s half century and then Joe Root’s gritty innings, England put down a game India, led by new captain Shubman Gill.
Earlier, two wickets in two balls from Indian bowler Shardul Thakur dragged his side back into the thrilling first test against England on Tuesday, restricting the hosts to 269-4 at tea on day five, chasing 371 to win.
Looking to achieve what would be their second highest successful run chase in tests, England started the day on 21-0 with openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley steering the hosts through to lunch unbeaten on 117-0 at Headingley.
Uncharacteristically for a team renowned for their ultra-aggressive batting, Crawley and Duckett took 99 balls to bring up their 50 partnership — the longest it has taken the pair to do so for England — before upping the ante.
Duckett continued his imperious form with another four through the covers to reach his sixth test hundred, before Crawley fell for 65, their 188-run partnership the second highest England opening fourth-innings stand in tests.
There was slight concern for England when first-innings centurion Ollie Pope quickly became Prasidh Krishna’s next victim in back-to-back overs.
Duckett continued to accumulate runs quickly, however, before attempting one big shot too many to fall to Thakur for 149 — the second highest test fourth-innings score by an English opener.
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Jitters set in around the ground when Harry Brook immediately played a loose stroke and feathered a catch to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant to depart for a golden duck.
There were further scares as England looked edgy, captain Ben Stokes surviving a close DRS review, but he and Joe Root survived till tea, setting up an enthralling final session with the hosts needing 102 runs to win.
(with agency inputs)
English (US) ·