England pulled off a confident 5-wicket victory against India on Day 5 of the 1st Test match at Headingley, Leeds, chasing down a competitive target with composure to take a 1–0 lead in the series. The match, which ebbed and flowed over five days, ended with Joe Root and debutant Jamie Smith steering England home in style.
The tone for the high-scoring contest was set early after England won the toss and opted to bowl first. India responded with a strong batting performance in their first innings, piling up 471 runs in 113 overs. Yashasvi Jaiswal laid the foundation with a fluent 101 off 158 balls, while skipper Shubman Gill crafted a commanding 147 off 227 deliveries. Vice-captain Rishabh Pant added further firepower with a blistering 134 off 178 balls, smashing 12 boundaries and six sixes. England’s bowling heroes were Ben Stokes, who bowled with heart to take 4 for 66 in 20 overs, and Josh Tongue, who matched him with 4 for 86.
In response, England posted a near-equal 465 in 100.4 overs. The batting charge was led by Ollie Pope with a graceful 106 off 137 balls and supported by Harry Brook, who agonizingly fell one run short of a century. Ben Duckett contributed 62 at the top, giving the hosts a solid start. Jasprit Bumrah was the standout bowler for India with a brilliant 5 for 83, while Prasidh Krishna chipped in with 3 for 128.
India began their second innings with a slim lead and set England a target after scoring 364 runs in 96 overs. KL Rahul displayed immense grit, scoring a patient 137 off 247 balls, and was well-supported once again by Pant, who scored 118 off 140 balls. Tongue and Brydon Carse shared three wickets each to limit India from running away with the game.
Chasing 371 for victory, England showed intent and maturity on the final day. Ben Duckett played a match-defining knock of 149 off 170 balls, laced with 21 boundaries and a six. Zak Crawley added a steady 65, laying the platform for a successful chase. Joe Root (53*) and Jamie Smith (44*) kept calm under pressure and saw England through as they finished on 373 for 5 in 82 overs.
Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna picked up two wickets each, but India were unable to halt England’s charge on a flat Day 5 pitch.
The match showcased high-quality performances from both sides, but it was England’s clinical execution with the bat in the final innings that made the difference. With this win, England go 1–0 up in the series, while India will be looking to bounce back strongly in the second Test.
