Ben Duckett scored a knock of 149 against India as England chased down 371 against India in the 2025 Leeds Test to help the hosts seal a five-wicket win in what is the Ben Stokes-led team’s second-highest run-chase in history. Ben Duckett put up a 188-run partnership with Zak Crawley, which is the highest opening partnership in the fourth innings of a Test match against India.
England openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley shattered multiple records during their 188-run stand on Day 5 of the 1st Test against India in Leeds. It is the highest opening partnership in the 4th innings of a Test against India. It is also highest opening partnership in the 4th innings at Headingley, and the second highest overall for England. Their partnership was broken by Prasidh Krishna in the 43rd over, after Crawley edged one to first slip.
Ben Duckett’s epic 149 steers England to historic win at Headingly Leeds
In the series opener between India and England, Ben Duckett took the mantle of weathering the early threat from Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj to provide an ideal platform for England to dominate the proceedings. Ben Duckett hammered 62 in the first innings and then powered his way to a blistering century before it started raining cats in Leeds.
In the first innings, Ben Duckett maintained England’s healthy scoring rate with his composed 62(94), laced with nine boundaries, before Bumrah rattled the timber to punch his return ticket. Ben Duckett continued to torment India Test captain Shubman Gill and his troops with his malicious intent. He ensured the tourists continued to endure a torrid time on the field with his smorgasbord strokeplay.
The explosive southpaw continued to pile runs on the board swiftly and moved into the 90s within the blink of an eye. Ben Duckett attempted to bring up his century in style by pulling the ball away. He took the aerial route but dispatched it straight towards Yashasvi Jaiswal.
The young southpaw, guilty of spilling three chances in the first innings, was culpable yet again. With eyes fixated on the ball, Jaiswal positioned himself but floored it, allowing Duckett to enjoy an unprecedented lifeline on 98, leaving Siraj completely dismayed. He made the most of the second opportunity and pulled out a reverse sweep from his loaded arsenal to send the ball racing past the boundary rope for a four. Ben Duckett leapt in the air and punched his fist in jubilation under the cloudy sky of Headingley.
As Ben Duckett experienced euphoria, this was the first century by an England opening batter in the fourth innings of a Test since Cook’s unbeaten 109 against Bangladesh in Mirpur in 2010. His unbeaten ton is also his first second-innings century. Steve Harmison feels that India didn’t believe they could get Ben Duckett after the England opener played a match-winning knock in the Leeds Test. Ben Duckett scored 149 runs to guide England to the win.
Steve Harmison praised Ben Duckett alongside criticizing Indian bowlers for their intent
Former England pacer Steve Harmison feels that India didn’t believe they would get Leeds Test hero Ben Duckett out on Day 5 of the match on Tuesday, June 24. Ben Duckett played with positive intent on the final day of the match and put the Indian bowlers to the sword with his fantastic batting.
The England opener scored 149 runs off 170 balls, hitting 21 boundaries and a six before being dismissed and putting England on course for a five-wicket win. Duckett was dropped at 98, but apart from that, he looked solid throughout his knock. Harmison praised Ben Duckett for his knock and claimed that the England opener believed that he will play the match-winning knock.
“Ben Duckett played wonderfully well. He believed he was going to play a match-winning knock,” Duckett said, speaking to ESPN Cricinfo.
When it came to India, Harmison said that they didn’t get the plans right against Ben Duckett and he capitalised on it.
“He (Duckett) believed he was going to score runs. He had a lot of positive intent, like he always does. I am not sure India believed they are going to get him out. I don’t think India got their plans right. I don’t think they bowled the right lengths and right lines to him. And, he capitalized on it,” said Harmison.
India didn’t have an answer for Ben Duckett exclaims Steve Harmison
Steve Harmison said that India didn’t have an answer or formula to stop Duckett from scoring and felt that the visitors weren’t even stopping singles.
“They didn’t have an answer. They didn’t have a formula to stop him from scoring. They didn’t have a plan and really were rudderless when it came to what their plan was, executing their skill set. Even in the field, they weren’t stopping singles. India’s bowlers were bowling good balls, but England were getting singles,” said Harmison.
Ben Duckett was adjudged as the Player Of The Match for his match-winning knock. India and England will face-off in the second Test, starting from July 2 at Edgbaston with India hoping to rectify the mistakes made in the match and comeback stronger in the series which England is currently leading 1-0.
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