Headingley—June 25, 2025: England pulled off a stunning win against India, chasing 371 on Day 5 to lead the five-match series 1–0. Ben Duckett’s masterclass 149, backed by partnerships with Zak Crawley (65) and finishing acts from Root & Smith, secured the win reddit.comm.cricbuzz.com+7apnews.com+7outlookindia.com+7sports.ndtv.com. Despite KL Rahul (137) and Rishabh Pant (118) pushing India to 364, Duckett’s innings remains the story of the match.
Day 5 Highlights & Turning Point
- England resumed needing 350+, but Duckett (149) and Crawley (65) put together a 188-run stand outlookindia.com+8sports.ndtv.com+8tribuneindia.com+8.
- Joe Root (53*) & Jamie Smith (44*) calmly finished the chase in the final session france24.com+15apnews.com+15cricbuzz.com+15.
- Duckett’s knock—the highest 4th innings score by an English opener vs India at Headingley—shifted the match decisively bbc.com+14outlookindia.com+14espn.in+14.
| Innings | India | England |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Innings | 471 (Gill 102, Pant 109, Jaiswal 95) |
465 (Ollie Pope 100, Brook 99) |
| 2nd Innings | 364 (KL Rahul 137, Rishabh Pant 118) :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2} |
371/5 (Ben Duckett 149, Crawley 65, Root 53*, Smith 44*) : |
| Total | 835 | 836/5 |
| Result | 🏆 England won by 5 wickets chasing 371 on Day 5 | |
| Player of the Match | Ben Duckett – 149 (191 balls) :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4} | |
4. Pitch & Conditions
- Flat batting track, mild swing early on Day 5; wore over the match but didn’t impede the chase .
- Overcast morning gave way to clearer skies—ideal for a chase.
5. 📊 Key Records & Stats
- England’s chase of 371 sets a new record at Headingley, now their 2nd-highest successful total tribuneindia.com+5cricbuzz.com+5timesofindia.indiatimes.com+5.
- India’s four centuries across both innings show batting dominance.
- Duckett’s 149—fourth-innings heroics, highlighted him as Player of the Match news18.com+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1outlookindia.com+2sports.ndtv.com+2tribuneindia.com+2.
6. 🎙️ Player Quotes/Incident
Duckett on England’s mindset:
“Just an incredible game, India were superb… if we batted through, we’d get home.” sports.ndtv.com+1tribuneindia.com+1
Also mention the run-out scare incident: Duckett accidentally hit teammate Harry Brook in the ribs early in the match reddit.com+15talksport.com+15cricbuzz.com+15.
7. FAQs Section
- Q: What was Day 5’s final score?
A: England chased 371, finishing 371/5 to win by 5 wickets. - Q: Who top-scored in the chase?
A: Ben Duckett with a pivotal 149. - Q: Who were India’s top performers?
A: KL Rahul (137) & Pant (118) in the second innings. - Q: Were any records broken?
A: Yes—2nd-highest chase for England and a new Headingley mark. - Q: Was there any drama?
A: Yes—a run-out throw accidentally hit Harry Brook early on sports.ndtv.com+2tribuneindia.com+2apnews.com+2reddit.com+15talksport.com+15sports.ndtv.com+15.