- Ben Duckett scored a career-best 141 off 120 balls against India at Lord’s.
- Duckett became the first centurion of the three-match ODI series.
- He broke Viv Richards’ 47-year-old Lord’s ODI record of 138*.
Ben Duckett, the England opener, had one of the best ODI innings at Lord’s on Sunday, breaking Viv Richards’ 47-year-old record for the highest individual score at the storied stadium with a career-best 141 against India.
Duckett became the first batsman to reach a century in the three-match series, and his 141 off 120 balls helped England strengthen their hold on the third and final ODI. The left-hander reached his century in 108 deliveries and continued to break records at the Home of Cricket.
The previous record was held by the legendary West Indies player Viv Richards, whose undefeated 138 against England in the 1979 World Cup final had been the greatest individual ODI score at Lord’s for over fifty years. Duckett passed the milestone before succumbing to Prince Yadav in the final moments of his innings.
After England decided to bat, Duckett had total control right away. As India’s bowlers battled to find solutions on a strong batting surface, he effortlessly rotated the strike, drove into the offside, and dragged anything short. With Jacob Bethell, the opener scored 192 runs for the first wicket, providing England with the perfect starting point in the series finale. Duckett continued to attack after reaching his century, and with plenty of overs left, he helped the hosts surpass 220 runs.
With injured speed leader Jasprit Bumrah out of the game, India’s offense lacked the cutting edge necessary to stop England’s surge. The spinners were unable to disrupt Duckett’s rhythm because he consistently found the boundary, while the seamers were unable to provide consistent pressure.
When Prince Yadav tricked Duckett with a slower bouncer, his innings was finally over. The left-hander walked off for 141 after misjudging the stroke and sending it straight back to the bowler while attempting to pull. A remarkable knock that had altered one of the venue’s oldest ODI records caused the Lord’s audience to rise in applause.
