London: England opening batter Ben Duckett delivered a spectacular masterclass at Lord’s to put his team in a commanding position against India during the third and deciding One Day International. Showing immense grit and exceptional stroke play, Duckett entered the record books by becoming the first player from either side to register a century in the ongoing 2026 series between the two cricketing powerhouses.
The Indian bowling attack visibly struggled from the outset in the absence of their premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. The star pacer was sidelined due to a knee injury, and his absence was heavily felt on a surface that greatly favoured the batters. Lead seamer Arshdeep Singh and the rest of the Indian bowling lineup looked largely ineffective and ordinary against the calculated English onslaught.
Taking complete advantage of the favourable conditions, Duckett launched a relentless attack on the visitors. The aggressive opener reached his coveted century in just 108 deliveries, finding the boundary rope 15 times in the process. He kept the scoreboard ticking and went on to build a massive 192 run partnership for the second wicket with young batter Jacob Bethell. Even after Bethell departed, Duckett maintained his aggressive approach and kept piling misery on the Indian fielders.
The remarkable innings finally came to an end when Duckett was dismissed for a brilliant 141 runs off 135 balls. He missed out on the 150 run milestone when he offered a simple catch off the bowling of Prince Yadav. Yadav, who was specially brought into the playing eleven for this crucial encounter, provided the vital breakthrough for his team. The official England Cricket social media handle also celebrated the superb hundred, sharing a video clip of his boundaries at the iconic venue.
With England setting a daunting target in this high scoring clash, the pressure is now squarely on the Indian batting unit. Millions of fans will be closely watching senior batter Rohit Sharma to see if the team can navigate this steep chase. The Indian batters will require a highly sensible and calculated approach to overhaul the massive total and secure the series victory.
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