Match Situation
On June 24, 2025, rain interrupted play on the fifth day of the first Test between England and India at Headingley, Leeds, with England at 181-0 after 41 overs, chasing a target of 371. Ben Duckett’s unbeaten 105 (his sixth Test century) and Zak Crawley’s 59* have given England a strong platform, needing 190 more runs with all second-innings wickets intact. India, led by Shubman Gill, require 10 wickets to secure victory. The match remains delicately poised, with rain threatening to force a draw, as forecasted by AccuWeather with an 84% chance of heavy showers.
Key Performances
- Ben Duckett’s Century: Duckett reached his sixth Test hundred in the 40th over, scoring 105* off 132 balls, including a reverse-sweep for four off Ravindra Jadeja. His aggressive 62 in the first innings (4.65 runs per over) and 92 successful take-ons in 2024/25 make him a leading Player of the Match candidate. Since his 2022 recall, Duckett has the most runs among openers (2,800+ at 45.16 average), trailing only Joe Root overall, with a strike rate of 88.2, per match commentary.
- Zak Crawley’s Resilience: Crawley’s 59* (110 balls) marks his first 50+ score in a fourth-innings chase at Headingley, alongside Duckett, achieving a historic feat as the first openers’ pair to both score 50+ in a Headingley fourth innings since 1899. His disciplined knock, including a cover drive off Mohammed Siraj, countered India’s attack led by Jasprit Bumrah (0/45).
- India’s Bowling Struggles: India’s bowlers, despite Bumrah’s 14th Test five-wicket haul (5/83) in England’s first innings, failed to break through. Jadeja (0/8) found some turn but conceded leg-side byes, while Siraj’s frustration was evident in exchanges with Duckett. India’s fielding woes, including three dropped catches (two by Yashasvi Jaiswal), and a late second-innings collapse (364 all out, losing 6/37) kept England in the hunt.
Rain’s Impact
Rain stopped play after the 41st over, with heavy showers forcing players off the field. The covers were on at Headingley, where conditions were overcast and muggy (20°C, down from 30°C earlier), per match reports. The forecast suggests intermittent showers, potentially limiting play to fewer than the 55 remaining overs. India, who lost a review on a Bumrah yorker to Ollie Pope on Day 2, may welcome the break to preserve the ball’s condition and rest Bumrah and Siraj, while England’s momentum (4.41 runs per over) faces disruption.
Match Context
India’s first innings totaled 471 (Gill 147, Rishabh Pant 134, Jaiswal 101), with England replying with 465 (Ollie Pope 106, Harry Brook 99), trailing by 6 runs. India’s second innings reached 364 (KL Rahul 137, Pant 118), setting England 371 to win. Pant’s twin centuries made him the first Asian wicketkeeper to achieve the feat in a Test, joining Andy Flower. England’s openers survived a tricky 30-minute spell on Day 4 (21-0), and Duckett’s century has shifted momentum. Historical context favors India, as Headingley’s highest successful chase remains Australia’s 404 in 1948, though England’s 2019 miracle (362/9) under Ben Stokes fuels belief in a Bazball-driven upset.
What’s Next?
With rain threatening, all four results, England win, India win, draw, or no result, remain possible. England need 190 runs at 3.45 runs per over, achievable with their aggressive approach, but Bumrah’s reverse swing and Jadeja’s spin on a Day 5 pitch with variable bounce pose threats. India, favored at 41% per WinViz compared to England’s 40%, rely on Bumrah (147 wickets in SENA countries) and Jadeja (294 career wickets) to trigger a collapse. If play resumes, England’s Crawley and Duckett must avoid reckless shots, while India aim to exploit overcast conditions. The scheduled close is 18:00 BST, but further rain could end play early, per AccuWeather. Fans on X are buzzing, with some hailing Duckett’s “Bazball masterclass” and others noting India’s fielding lapses as costly.
