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LEEDS: England opener Ben Duckett has shattered multiple records with his sublime 149-run knock against India in the ongoing first Test here at Headingley on Tuesday.
Duckett, who scored a sublime century, broke the record for the highest runs against India in the fourth innings of a Test match. Previously, Joe Root had held the record with an unbeaten 142* at Edgbaston in 2022.
In addition to this, Duckett also became only the second opener after Alastair Cook to score consecutive half-centuries at the iconic Headingley cricket ground. Previously, former England captain Alastair Cook had achieved this feat at this iconic ground.
The 30-year-old is also the first England opener to score a fourth innings century since Cook against Bangladesh at Mirpur in 2010.
The mammoth 188-run stand between the openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett also tumbled multiple records. The partnership that cruised England is the highest fourth innings stand against India.
Moreover, this is also the highest opening stand in a fourth innings of a Test match in England. Previously, England’s Geoffrey Boycott and Mike Brearley put on a 154-run partnership against Australia in 1977.
With the mammoth stand, England were in command of a daunting 371-run chase despite wickets falling in a heap. Crawley and Duckett kept Indian bowlers at bay till lunch, scoring briskly as the home side brought down the target.
However, India pacer Prasidh Krishna brought the visitors back into the game with back-to-back wickets in a short period.
Krishna first removed Zak Crawley, who made 65 off 126 deliveries, laced with seven boundaries. In the span of only two balls, he also sent back Ollie Pope, reducing England to 206-2.
With England requiring 188 more runs, Shardul Thakur dismissed Ben Duckett and Harry Brook on back-to-back deliveries. Duckett, who made 149, was caught while Brook was sent back for a golden duck.
At tea, England were 269 for 4, needing 102 more runs. Ben Stokes (13) and Joe Root (14) remained not out, with India searching for more wickets.
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