England opener Ben Duckett continued his fine form in home conditions, smashing his sixth Test century and spearheading England’s chase of 371 on Day 5 of the first Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Duckett reached his hundred in just 121 balls, underlining his ability to score briskly under pressure.
A central figure in England’s much-discussed ‘Bazball’ revolution, Duckett led the charge on the final day, putting India under significant pressure. Alongside Zak Crawley, he added over 180 runs for the opening partnership, effectively extinguishing India’s hopes of a final-day victory. When rain halted play in the second session on Tuesday, England were 181 for no loss, scoring at an impressive 4.43 runs per over. Duckett remained unbeaten on 105 off 126 balls, laced with 14 boundaries.
ENG vs IND 1st Test Day 5 Updates
Having scored 62 in the first innings, Duckett followed it up with a composed and confident knock, reflecting the poise of a batter familiar with conditions and in fine touch.
This was Duckett’s first century in the fourth innings of a Test and his third at home. He joined an elite group of England openers-including Graham Gooch, Geoffrey Boycott, Alastair Cook, and Andrew Strauss-who have registered a hundred in the fourth innings of a Test match.
He became only the third opener after Cook and Strauss to hit a fourth-innings hundred in the last 20 years.
ENGLAND OPENERS WITH FOURTH INNINGS HUNDREDS
Herbert Sutcliffe (3), Graham Gooch (3), Geoffrey Boycott (3), Michael Atherton (2), Jack Hobbs (2), Cyril Washbrook (2), Alastair Cook (2), Colin Milburn (1), Paul Gibb (1), Alec Stewart (1), Marcus Trescothick (1), Willie Watson (1), Rev. David Sheppard (1), Andrew Strauss (1), Michael Vaughan (1), Ben Duckett (1)
Ben Duckett’s Test hundreds
- Home: 3
- Away: 3 (Two in Pakistan, One in India)
Duckett and Crawley resumed their innings on an overcast Tuesday morning, having negotiated a nervy 30-minute period late on Day 4. Both openers remained calm and risk-free in the first hour, navigating the threat posed by a Jasprit Bumrah-led bowling attack.
It was Duckett who began to press on, punishing India with his remarkable shot selection and ability to put pressure back on the bowlers. He refused to be subdued by Bumrah, rotating the strike smartly and dispatching anything loose.
On 97, Duckett was handed a lifeline when Yashasvi Jaiswal dropped a straightforward catch at deep fine-leg off the bowling of Mohammed Siraj-his fourth dropped chance of the match.
Duckett brought up his hundred with a trademark reverse sweep off Ravindra Jadeja, once again displaying his unorthodox flair that left India, and especially stand-in captain Shubman Gill, struggling to set appropriate fields-even with a large tot
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