Leeds, England — In a Test match that swung like a pendulum and thrilled fans for five days straight, England National Cricket Team pulled off a sensational five-wicket victory over India National Cricket Team at Headingley in the first match of the five-Test series. Chasing a daunting target of 371 in the fourth innings, England rode on a stunning 149-run knock by Ben Duckett and a gritty 65 from Zak Crawley to claim the win with 84 balls to spare. India, despite centuries from KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, fell short in the final act, as England delivered a masterclass in fourth-innings batting under pressure.
Day 5 – Duckett Dominates as England Dazzles
Resuming at 264/2, needing 107 more runs, England showed no nerves. Duckett, already past his century, continued to punish the bowlers with precise footwork and bold strokeplay. Crawley was composed at the other end, soaking pressure and building a crucial 123-run partnership that broke the Indian spirit.
India tried everything—pace, spin, reverse swing—but the Leeds surface offered little help on Day 5. Shardul Thakur picked two late wickets, but by then, the game had slipped beyond India’s reach.
Rahul-Pant Revival Can’t Save India
Earlier in the match, India had posted a massive 471 in the first innings, powered by twin tons from Gill (147) and Pant (134), the latter playing one of his most balanced Test innings yet. England responded strongly with 465, led by Pope’s classy 106 and Brook’s unfortunate 99, falling just one run short of a ton.
In the second innings, India relied again on the trusted duo of KL Rahul (137*) and Pant (118) to set up a formidable 371-run target. But the middle order didn’t fire, and the lower order folded quickly, leaving England with a chaseable total and two full days to get there.
Bumrah’s Firepower, Tongue’s Resurgence
Jasprit Bumrah’s first-innings five-for (5/83) brought India back into the contest, while Josh Tongue’s match haul of 7 wickets (4/86 & 3/72) stood out as a major talking point. The young England pacer displayed sharp bounce and discipline, rattling India’s middle order twice.
Stokes, returning to bowling duties, chipped in with 4/66 in the first innings, showing glimpses of his old all-round brilliance.
India will have to regroup quickly. Despite dominating large parts of the match, a lack of penetration on Day 5 and a failure to break partnerships cost them dearly. England, on the other hand, will go into the second Test with momentum and belief that they can conquer any target.
🔥 Match Summary:
India 1st Innings: 471
- Shubman Gill – 147 (227)
- Rishabh Pant – 134 (178)
- Ben Stokes – 4/66
- Josh Tongue – 4/86
England 1st Innings: 465
- Ollie Pope – 106 (137)
- Harry Brook – 99 (112)
- Jasprit Bumrah – 5/83
- Prasidh Krishna – 3/128
India 2nd Innings: 364
- KL Rahul – 137 (247)
- Rishabh Pant – 118 (140)
- Josh Tongue – 3/72
- Brydon Carse – 3/80
England 2nd Innings: 373/5
- Ben Duckett – 149 (170)
- Zak Crawley – 65 (126)
- Shardul Thakur – 2/51
- Prasidh Krishna – 2/92
Result: England won by 5 wickets
Venue: Headingley, Leeds
Toss: England won the toss and chose to bowl
