Islamabad, June 25, 2025: England’s top-order batter Ben Duckett was in stellar form as he scored a match-defining century against India in the opening Test at Headingley on Tuesday.
The southpaw opener, who made 62 runs in England’s first outing, followed it up with a stunning hundred in the second innings while chasing a target of 371. Duckett took his team to a dominant position by piling up 149 runs, with 21 boundaries and a six.
With this fourth-innings hundred, Duckett became the first England opener in 15 years to score a century in the final innings of a Test. The last England opener to achieve this milestone was ex-captain Sir Alastair Cook, who hit a ton in the fourth innings against Bangladesh back in 2010. Duckett also matched Cook’s record of hitting back-to-back fifties at Headingley.
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Additionally, the England batter also shared an 188-run opening partnership with Zak Crawley, the highest for his side since 2001 and the highest opening stand in the fourth innings against India. Meanwhile, the final day of the first Test saw the home side tumble when Shardul Thakur removed Ben Duckett and Harry Brook on consecutive balls, leaving England at 253/4.
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However, skipper Ben Stokes and Joe Root brought their side back into the game by taking the total to 302, before the former was dismissed for 33.
