England chases down 371 runs to beat India in series opener at Headingley
LEEDS, England (AP) — England brilliantly paced a mammoth chase of 371 runs to beat India by five wickets and take the series-opening Headingley test on Tuesday with 14 overs to spare.
England pulled off the 10th highest successful run chase in test history by playing clinically and confidently on a fifth-day pitch and in conditions, especially in the morning and afternoon, that suited India’s bowlers.
Ben Duckett’s and Zak Crawley’s magnificent opening partnership of 188 — knocking off more than half of the required runs — underpinned a chase that was ultimately finished in style by Jamie Smith’s massive knee-down six over long-on.
After a wicketless morning, pacers Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur were India’s surprising wicket-takers in the afternoon. When spinner Ravindra Jadeja claimed captain Ben Stokes after tea with 69 runs needed, the chase finally became tense.
But Joe Root, 53 not out, and Smith, 44 not out, removed all drama by hitting the remaining runs without giving India a sniff.
The odds were heavily against England when it resumed the chase on a gloomy morning on 21-0, needing 350 more runs. But England strengthened its reputation for gunning down big targets. It achieved its 12th successful run chase in 14 chances at home under coach Brendon ‘Baz’ McCullum.
In a big year for England with four more home tests against India followed by the Ashes in Australia, England said it was prioritizing winning over entertainment. And this wasn’t a typical “Bazball” crash-bang chase, but grown up “Bazball,” measured and controlled. The asking run rate was just under four an over and England stayed around it.
“What a mint test match,” Stokes told the BBC. “To get to day five and come home with the win is amazing and what a game to be a part of. A great start to the series.
“We did what we needed to do in the crucial moments. This win here is not down to just the skill, but the attitude of this dressing room.”
It still entertained all five days, only the third test in history in which all four innings were 350 runs or more. England scored 465 and 373-5 against India’s 471 and 364.
England became the first team in first-class cricket, let alone tests, to concede five centuries in a game and win.
“A brilliant test, we had our chances,” India captain Shubman Gill said. “Dropped catches (and the) lower (batting) order not contributing cost us.”
Duckett and Crawley lay foundation
Duckett and Crawley calmly absorbed India pressure to take the total to 117-0 by lunch and become the first set of England openers to score 2,000 runs as a pair since Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss 13 years ago.
Crawley was happy to let Duckett be the aggressor, and hit his slowest test 50. He was lucky on 42 when Jasprit Bumrah missed a low caught-and-bowled chance. No. 1 test bowler Bumrah hurled 16 overs without a wicket on Tuesday.
“Zak played beautifully and we knew we had to set the tone up,” Duckett told the BBC. “We only had to look at the scoreboard to know that if we batted the overs, we would win the game. There were moments when I thought about stepping into another gear but the breaks in the game helped us to stay calm.”
After lunch, Duckett was dropped on 97 by a diving Yashasvi Jaiswal, angering bowler Mohammed Siraj. That was Jaiswal’s third drop of the match.
Duckett reverse-swept Jadeja for his 14th boundary and his hundred off 121 balls. He jumped and punched the air to celebrate his sixth test hundred and second against India.
But he lost his partner Crawley after a brief rain delay on 65 off 126 balls. The pair achieved the fifth-highest opening stand in the fourth innings in test history, and dropped the odds in England’s favor.
Krishna, who had been going for six an over, was the unlikely wicket-taker. Then he got a second 11 minutes later, Ollie Pope on 8.
Duckett was almost scoring at will. When he reverse-swept Jadeja for a six, India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant acknowledged its daring by tapping Duckett’s arm.
But he finally fell to a catch in the covers on 149 off 170 balls, including 21 boundaries. Next ball, the barely used Thakur got Harry Brook to nick off for a duck.
England still needed 118 runs and India sensed a chance, but in the middle already was Root, who averages 58 against India.
He and Stokes added 49 together, helped along by India misfields and three poor India reviews. Stokes was out for 33 but Smith came in and hit the winning runs after Root cruised to his 102nd 50-plus score in his 154th test.
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