Ben Duckett’s Record-Breaking Century Powers England to ODI Series Win Over India
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
England secured a 27-run victory over India in the third and final One-Day International at Lord’s, sealing the three-match series 2-1 with an impressive all-round performance.
Opener Ben Duckett starred with a magnificent 141 runs, setting a new record for the highest individual score in a men’s ODI at Lord’s. His innings helped England post a commanding 387/3, the highest One-Day International total ever recorded at the historic venue.
England Build Massive Total
Duckett and Jacob Bethell laid the foundation with a superb 192-run opening partnership, putting England in complete control early in the innings.
Bethell contributed an excellent 91, narrowly missing out on a century, before Joe Root added an unbeaten 74. Captain Jos Buttler then provided a quick finish with an unbeaten 41 from just 13 deliveries, helping England accelerate in the closing overs.
Rohit Sharma Leads India’s Response
Chasing a challenging target of 388, India mounted a strong reply through Rohit Sharma, who scored a brilliant 138. The innings marked the first ODI century by an Indian batter at Lord’s.
Sharma shared important partnerships with Shubman Gill, who made 77, and Virat Kohli, who contributed 74, keeping India in contention for much of the chase.
However, after Sharma’s dismissal, England’s bowlers regained control and restricted India’s progress despite several late attacking efforts.
England Bowlers Finish the Job
All-rounder Sam Curran was England’s most successful bowler, taking 4 wickets to halt India’s chase during the middle and late overs.
Jacob Bethell also made an impact with the ball by dismissing Rohit Sharma, while Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid claimed one wicket each.
India finished on 360/7, falling 27 runs short of the target.
Series Victory for England
The result gave England a 2-1 series victory after both teams had won one match each earlier in the series.
Jacob Bethell was named Player of the Match for his outstanding all-round performance, contributing both with the bat and the ball.
Ben Duckett’s record-breaking century, combined with England’s powerful batting display and disciplined bowling, ensured the hosts ended the ODI series on a winning note against the world’s top-ranked ODI side.
