England’s Ben Duckett etched his name into Test cricket history with a breathtaking 149 in the fourth innings against India at Headingley, steering his team home in a record chase. The left-hander had already laid a strong foundation with 62 in the first innings, but it was his counter-attacking masterclass in the final innings that truly caught the eye .
Ben Duckett’s 149 featured 21 crisp fours and one towering six, and it came during a monumental 188-run opening stand with Zak Crawley—the highest fourth-innings partnership by an England pair against India, and the best in England since 2001 . This partnership injected momentum into a tense chase of 371 and carried the hosts to within sight of victory.
Significantly, Ben Duckett became the first England opener since Sir Alastair Cook in 2010 to score a century in the fourth innings—breaking a 15-year drought . He also matched Cook’s feat of posting consecutive half-centuries at Headingley, reinforcing his growing legacy at the iconic venue.
The score of 149 is now the highest individual fourth-innings knock by an England opener against India. Prior to Duckett, Joe Root held the unofficial record with 142* against India in 2022.
India fought back strongly—Prasidh Krishna removed Crawley, followed closely by Ollie Pope and then Thakur dismissing both Duckett and Brook in consecutive balls. The hosts steadied the ship through Joe Root’s unbeaten 53 and Jamie Smith’s composed 44, eventually seeing England home and sealing their place in Test lore .
This thrilling chase ranks as the second-highest successful run chase at Headingley and marks one of England’s most memorable victories over India. Duckett’s performance earned him well-deserved plaudits and the Player of the Match award, with fans applauding his reverse-sweep shots and rhythmic stroke-making .
For Ben Duckett , it’s more than another century—it’s a statement. Having scored a record-breaking 165 in the ICC Champions Trophy earlier this year, he continues to assert himself as a Test match force. As England celebrates a stunning win, Duckett’s courage and skill have lit up the series, and fans will talk about this innings for years to come.
