- June 25, 2025
ENG vs IND (1st Test) – Highlights
England recently registered one of their most remarkable Test victories, defeating India by 5 wickets at Headingley, Leeds, to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Chasing a daunting fourth-innings target of 371, the English top order stepped up with a blend of flair and grit, led by the irrepressible Ben Duckett, who scored a match-winning 149 off 170 balls. His effort was aptly rewarded with the Player of the Match accolade, as England completed the chase in 82 overs, finishing at 373/5.
India, having posted 471 in the first innings, might have believed they had enough cushion on the board. A sublime 147 from captain Shubman Gill and a masterclass 134 from Rishabh Pant formed the backbone of their innings, with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal also contributing a fine 101. England’s bowlers, however, kept India in check with disciplined spells, particularly Ben Stokes (4/66) and Josh Tongue (4/86).
England responded strongly with the bat, putting up 465 in their first innings. Despite early blows – including the quick dismissal of Zak Crawley for 4 – the hosts found their rhythm through Ollie Pope (106) and Harry Brook (99). The lower-order chipped in crucial runs, notably Chris Woakes (38) and Jamie Smith (40), to nearly match India’s first-innings total. The pick of the Indian bowlers was Jasprit Bumrah, who bowled with fire and finesse to claim 5/83.
India’s second innings was defined by a commanding knock from KL Rahul, who stood tall with 137 off 247 deliveries. Pant was once again electric, striking 118 from 140, but the middle and lower order faltered. India were bowled out for 364, leaving England with a stiff target of 371 on a pitch beginning to wear. The English attack shared wickets around, with Brydon Carse (3/80) and Tongue (3/72) making significant inroads.
What followed was a fourth-innings batting effort for the ages. Duckett counterattacked with audacity and timing, dominating both pace and spin. He formed vital partnerships—188 with Crawley (65) and *67 with Joe Root (53)**—which ensured England remained ahead in the chase. The Indian bowlers, especially Prasidh Krishna (2/92) and Shardul Thakur (2/51), tried valiantly but lacked the penetration to trigger a collapse.
The Indian spin spearhead Ravindra Jadeja, who bowled 24 overs, looked less threatening as the English batters neutralized his threat with clever footwork and soft hands. Bumrah and Siraj, despite their reputations, remained wicketless in the second innings, and the lack of breakthroughs during crucial moments ultimately cost India.
Jamie Smith (44)* played a composed hand towards the end, ensuring no late drama as England crossed the finish line. This win, built on high-tempo batting and aggressive intent, underlines England’s evolution under Stokes and McCullum. For India, the loss raises questions about their bowling depth and the consistency of their middle order, despite standout performances from Pant and Rahul.
As the series shifts to the second Test, India will seek redemption, while England will look to ride the momentum of this historic chase.
England vs India Scoreboard
India (1st innings) – 471/10 (113.0)
England (1st innings)– 465/10 (100.4)
India (2nd innings) – 364/10 (96.0)
England (2nd innings)– 373/5 (82.0)
Result – England won by 5 wickets
Player of the match – Ben Duckett
Ben Duckett
ENG vs IND Playing XIs
England | Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Shoaib Bashir, Joe Root, Chris Woakes, Ollie Pope, Josh Tongue, Zak Crawley, Brydon Carse, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett |
India | Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Karun Nair, Sai Sudharsan, Prasidh Krishna, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah |
Disclaimer: These Match highlights reflect the author’s insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the points discussed and form their own conclusions.
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