Duckett ton powers England to exhilarating victory over India

LEEDS: Ben Duckett’s superb 149 laid the foundation for a record-breaking England win as they beat India by five wickets in a dramatic first Test at Headingley on Tuesday.

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Victory meant England became the first team to concede five individual hundreds in a first-class game — a span of more than 60,000 matches — and still win.

England, set 371 to win, finished on 373-5 in the last session of the fifth day as they went I-O up in a five-match series.

Jamie Smith (44 not out) stayed true to the aggressive ‘Bazball’ style that has seen England make light of several stiff run-chases with a six off spinner Ravindra Jadeja for the winning runs.

Joe Root was 53 not out on his Yorkshire home ground after opener Duckett had launched the pursuit in style during an impressive first-wicket stand of 188 with Zak Crawley (65).

India's attack was led by Jasprit Bumrah, the world’s number one-ranked Test bowler but, remarkably, the paceman failed to take a wicket in the second innings following his 5-83 earlier in the game.

England's win was their second highest fourth-innings chase to win a Test, behind the 378 they made against India at Edgbaston three years ago when Root hit an unbeaten century, against an attack featuring Bumrah.

This result condemned Shubman Gill, who scored a first-innings century, to defeat in his first match as India captain.