Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley gave England fans a morning session to remember on Day 5 at Headingley, with the scoreboard reading 117 for 0 by Lunch. The target is still 254 runs away but the way the pair navigated the blustery, overcast conditions made the hosts believe a win wasn’t just a distant dream. India bowled with determination; they stuck to their plans, especially early on, but the rewards just wouldn’t come. No breakthroughs, no moments of magic, just frustration as Duckett and Crawley dug in and cashed in when chances came.
Slow Start, Steady Nerves
It was not the kind of start that Bazball fans expect; only 42 runs in the first hour. But that wasn’t because England lacked intent. The Indian pacers came out with purpose; Siraj and Prasidh Krishna kept things tight, testing both edges of the bat. Siraj, in particular, came close; twice he thought he had Crawley trapped in front, twice the umpire shook his head. And Prasidh?
He bowled fuller, probing that awkward fifth stump line to Duckett; one edge flew over gully for four, another drive beat the infield at last. During this careful phase, you got the sense that the tension was building; for those following closely, maybe checking 1xbet old version login quietly on the side, the game was hanging in the balance in a way that only Test cricket delivers.
The 50-run stand came right before drinks, a little relief for the England dressing room and a reminder that these two weren’t giving their wickets away. The bowlers kept coming but without the swing or seam movement they needed; the English pair weren’t rattled, not even close.
Shift in Gears: England Starts to Push Back
After the break, everything changed. The same bowlers who had kept Duckett in check found him cutting and pulling anything too short. Prasidh’s good line outside off suddenly looked risky as Duckett found his rhythm; a couple of crisp boundaries brought up his half-century. Crawley wasn’t far behind; after one particularly sweet cover drive off Thakur, the pressure seemed to shift. Thakur struggled to find his length; the openers took full advantage and gaps began to appear.
Gill, captaining India in this tense finale, scrambled to plug holes after shots had already split the field. That’s when you saw Crawley punch one through point to bring up a 100-run partnership, the first of its kind at Headingley in a fourth-innings chase since the 1980s. Small details added to the drama; India trying to change the ball twice before finally getting approval after 27 overs, the ball getting softer as overs ticked by. Bumrah and Jadeja restored some control just before the break but by then England had seized momentum.
The Small Moments That Shape a Match
It wasn’t just the runs that mattered but the little things: Crawley pulling out just as Siraj ran in, a move that ate up seconds and denied India another Bumrah over before Lunch; Bumrah missing a sharp caught-and-bowled chance that might have opened the door. Every detail in a game like this feels huge; these small swings can decide whether it’s victory or defeat when the final ball is bowled.
What’s remarkable is how England’s approach combined caution and aggression so naturally; they didn’t throw it away in a rush but still kept the scoreboard ticking. The Indian bowlers, for all their hard work, ended the session still hunting that first wicket; credit to the openers for that.
Looking Ahead: Can England Finish the Job?
England still needs 254 runs; a mountain but one they’ve started climbing with confidence. Duckett and Crawley gave a masterclass in how to handle pressure, how to pick your moments, and how to stay patient without losing intent. The pitch isn’t a minefield, the ball isn’t doing much, but it’s cricket’s mental game now that will decide how this plays out.
If they keep up this mix of discipline and timely shot-making, England fans could be in for something special. India will come hard after Lunch; expect field changes, short-pitched plans, maybe more spin.What’s clear is that this Headingley finale is delivering the kind of edge-of-your-seat drama that Test cricket lovers hope for, whatever happens. And usually that’s the beauty of the game; no script, no certainty, just a battle of wills played out over hours where every run, every ball, every pause counts.