LEEDS, England (AP) — England brilliantly paced a mammoth chase of 371 runs to beat India by five wickets and take the series-opening Headingley test on Tuesday with 14 overs to spare.
England pulled off the 10th highest successful run chase in test history by playing clinically and confidently on a fifth-day pitch and in conditions, especially in the morning and afternoon, that suited India’s bowlers.
Ben Duckett’s and Zac Crawley’s magnificent opening partnership of 188 — knocking off more than half of the required runs — underpinned a chase that was ultimately finished in style by Jamie Smith’s massive knee-down six over long-on.
After a wicketless morning, pacers Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur were India’s surprising wicket-takers in the afternoon. When spinner Ravindra Jadeja claimed captain Ben Stokes after tea with 69 runs needed, the chase finally became tense.
But Joe Root, 53 not out, and Smith, 44 not out, removed all drama by hitting the remaining runs without giving India a sniff.
The odds were heavily against England when it resumed the chase on a gloomy morning on 21-0, needing 350 more runs. But England strengthened its reputation for gunning down big targets. It achieved its 12th successful run chase in 18 chances under coach Brendon ‘Baz’ McCullum. The other six were lost.
In a big year for England with four more home tests against India followed by the Ashes in Australia, England said it was prioritizing winning over entertainment. And this wasn’t a typical “Bazball” crash-bang chase, but grown up “Bazball,” measured and controlled. The asking run rate was just under four an over and England stayed around it.
It still entertained all five days, only the third test in history in which all four innings were 350 runs or more. England scored 465 and 373-5 against India’s 471 and 364.
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The Associated Press
