Picture Credit: Getty Images
Ben Duckett’s magnificent 141 and a dominant batting display powered England to a commanding 387/3 in 50 overs against India in the third and deciding ODI at Lord’s on Sunday.
Duckett struck 141 off 135 balls, including 18 fours and a six, while Jacob Bethell made 91 off 93 deliveries with 11 fours and two sixes.
The pair added a record 192-run opening stand, the highest partnership for any wicket by England against India in ODIs.
Joe Root remained unbeaten on 71 off 48 balls, while Jos Buttler blasted an unbeaten 41 from just 13 deliveries as England posted the highest List A total at the Home of Cricket.
India’s depleted bowling attack struggled throughout the innings after opting to play with only five frontline bowlers in the absence of injured pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.
Duckett reached his fourth ODI century before surpassing Viv Richards’ unbeaten 138 in the 1979 World Cup final to register the highest individual ODI score at Lord’s.
Bethell brought up his maiden ODI fifty as an opener before falling for 91 to Prasidh Krishna. His innings came days after the passing of Sir Garfield Sobers, whom Bethell had credited as a major influence on his cricketing journey.
Root extended his remarkable consistency by registering a sixth consecutive ODI fifty, a first in men’s ODI cricket. Harry Brook made 14 before Prasidh Krishna claimed his second wicket.
Buttler then unleashed a late assault, smashing three successive sixes during his unbeaten knock as he and Root added 63 runs in just 20 balls.
England plundered 126 runs in the final 10 overs, including 82 in the last five.
India conceded 26 extras, while Gurnoor Brar’s figures of 0-97 became the most expensive in ODI history at Lord’s.
To read more such news, download Bharat Express news apps
