Ben Duckett's 141 powers England to ODI series victory over India, Rohit 100 in vain

 


England clinched the three-match ODI series 2-1 with a thrilling 27-run victory over India in the deciding third One-Day International at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground. In a run-filled contest that produced over 740 runs, England's explosive batting proved just enough to overcome a spirited Indian chase led by a magnificent century from captain Rohit Sharma. 


After winning the toss, England made full use of excellent batting conditions by posting a formidable 387/3 in 50 overs. Openers Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell laid the foundation with a breathtaking 192-run opening partnership, the highest opening stand for England against India in ODIs. Duckett was at his brilliant best, producing a career-defining innings of 141 off 135 balls, decorated with elegant drives, powerful pulls and fearless strokeplay all around the ground. His knock became the highest individual ODI score at Lord's, surpassing Viv Richards' long-standing record of 138 set in 1979. Bethell provided superb support, narrowly missing out on a century with a fluent 91 off 93 balls, ensuring England dominated the first 35 overs. 


India's inexperienced pace attack, playing without the injured Jasprit Bumrah, struggled to contain England's batters. Although Prasidh Krishna eventually dismissed both Duckett and Bethell, the damage had already been done. The experienced Joe Root continued his outstanding series with an unbeaten 74 off just 48 balls, rotating the strike beautifully before accelerating in the closing overs. Former captain Jos Buttler then provided a spectacular finish, smashing 41 not out from only 13 deliveries, including a flurry of boundaries and sixes, as England plundered 82 runs in the final five overs to finish with a daunting 387/3. 


Facing a mammoth target of 388, India responded in outstanding fashion. Captain Rohit Sharma produced one of the finest innings of his ODI career, attacking England's bowlers after a slowish start initially , with exquisite timing and controlled aggression. He raced to a magnificent 138 off 110 balls, striking 17 fours and five sixes, while becoming the first Indian batter to score an ODI century at Lord's. Rohit shared a superb 147-run opening partnership with Shubman Gill, who contributed an elegant 77 off 84 balls, giving India genuine hope of completing a record chase. 


The turning point came in the 39th over, when Jacob Bethell dismissed Rohit with India still well in contention. England seized the momentum immediately afterwards. Sam Curran produced a match-winning spell, striking at crucial moments to remove Virat Kohli, who had played an excellent innings of 74, before dismissing KL Rahul and other lower-order batters. Curran's timely breakthroughs halted India's charge just when the visitors looked capable of pulling off a remarkable victory. Despite late hitting from the lower order, India eventually finished on 360/7, falling 27 runs short of the target. 


The victory completed a memorable white-ball series for England, whose batting depth and ability to accelerate in the final overs proved decisive throughout the contest. Ben Duckett deservedly received the Player of the Match award for his record-breaking century, while Joe Root concluded another exceptional series without being dismissed in any of his three innings. 


Best performers

England

Ben Duckett: 141 (135) – Highest ODI score ever at Lord's.

Jacob Bethell: 91 (93) – Brilliant support in a 192-run opening stand.

Joe Root: 74 (48)* – Unbeaten finish to another superb series.

Jos Buttler: 41 (13)* – Devastating late cameo.

Sam Curran: 4/75 – Match-winning spell that broke India's chase.

India

Rohit Sharma: 138 (110) – 17 fours, 5 sixes; first Indian to score an ODI hundred at Lord's.

Shubman Gill: 77 (84) – Excellent opening partnership with Rohit.

Virat Kohli: 74 – Kept India firmly in the contest before falling at a crucial stage.

Prasidh Krishna: 2 wickets, including the key dismissals of Duckett and Bethell.

Although India fought valiantly and matched England for long periods, England's record-breaking top-order partnership and explosive finish with the bat ultimately proved the difference. Rohit Sharma's magnificent century and India's fearless chase earned widespread admiration, but Sam Curran's decisive spell under pressure ensured England secured a memorable 27-run victory and their first bilateral ODI series win over India since 2018. 


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