England pulls off historic chase to defeat India at Headingley

England pulled off a stunning victory in the opening Test against India at Headingley, successfully chasing a massive target of 371 runs to win by five wickets.

The chase marked England’s second-highest successful run pursuit in Test cricket history, anchored by a magnificent 149-run knock from opener Ben Duckett and a composed finish from Joe Root and Jamie Smith.

Resuming the final day with all 10 wickets in hand, England’s openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley set the tone with a commanding 188-run stand. Duckett was in sublime touch, dominating the Indian attack with an array of strokes—including reverse sweeps and fluent drives—while Crawley provided solid support, handling Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna with confidence.

Despite a smooth first session, the second session—interrupted by rain—brought a flurry of wickets. Prasidh Krishna broke the opening stand by removing Crawley, and Ollie Pope was bowled shortly after. Duckett fell agonizingly short of a memorable 150, dismissed for 149, and Harry Brook followed him the very next ball, briefly putting England under pressure.

However, Joe Root and Jamie Smith steered the ship with calm assurance. Root remained unbeaten on 53, while Smith sealed the win with a six in the final over to finish on 44 not out.

India’s bowlers created several chances but failed to capitalize, with dropped catches and missed opportunities proving costly. Yashasvi Jaiswal was active in the field, taking four catches, but a key missed chance off Ben Stokes—when a catch fell between two fielders—highlighted India’s fielding woes.

Prasidh Krishna claimed two key wickets in the innings but lacked support in the final session as England marched towards a famous win.

With this remarkable chase, England took a 1-0 lead in the series and delivered a statement performance in their quest for Test supremacy.