England sealed a 27‑run series‑winning triumph over India in the third One Day International at Lord's, thanks to a monumental innings from Ben Duckett and a decisive late spell from Sam Curran. Duckett’s dazzling 141 off 135 balls not only set a new record for the highest individual ODI score at the historic ground, but also marked his fourth century in the format. His knock was complemented by a blistering cameo from Jos Buttler, who rattled 41 runs from just 13 deliveries, propelling England to a daunting total of 387 for three.
The chase belonged to India’s captain Rohit Sharma, who produced a masterclass innings of 138 off 110 balls, his 34th ODI hundred. He built solid partnerships with Shubman Gill (77) and Virat Kohli (74), keeping the visitors firmly in contention. At one stage India were 303 for two, needing 84 runs from the final 39 balls.
However, a crucial seven‑ball burst from Sam Curran turned the tide: he dismissed Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer and Kohli in quick succession, halting the momentum and leaving India 27 runs short of the target. England’s innings began with a record‑breaking opening stand of 192 runs, a partnership that set the tone for a dominant batting display. After Duckett’s century, Jacob Bethell contributed a quick‑fire 91, while Joe Root added a swift 74.
Buttler’s explosive finish saw England add 82 runs in the last five overs, cementing a total of 387‑3 after the full 50 overs. On the bowling side, England’s attack, despite the absence of the injured Jasprit Bumrah, managed to keep the Indian batsmen under pressure, with Prasidh Krishna and Prince Yadav sharing the wickets.
India’s reply started brightly, with Rohit and Gill putting together a 147‑run opening partnership. However, Gill suffered a recurrence of the cramp that had forced his retirement in the first ODI, and after receiving treatment he was dismissed lbw by Adil Rashid, who claimed his first wicket of the series. Rohit continued his on‑fire form, eventually reaching his eighth ODI hundred on English soil, but the loss of wickets at the back end proved costly.
Sam Curran’s late spell, yielding figures of 4 for 75, proved the decisive factor, as India were bowled out for 260‑7, handing England a comprehensive series win. The victory marked England’s second ODI series triumph over India since 2012 and their fifth win in six matches against the world‑number‑one side.
It also capped off a dominant summer for England, who had previously whitewashed India 4‑0 in the T20 series. Harry Brook, who won the toss for the third time in the series and elected to bat, praised his teammates for their resilience and communication, drawing parallels with the earlier T20 success.
Joe Root, named Player of the Series with 249 runs across three games and never dismissed, highlighted the significance of bouncing back from the opening loss and the positive direction the team is heading. Key moments of the match included: - Ben Duckett’s record‑breaking 141, surpassing Sir Viv Richards’ previous best at Lord’s.
- Jacob Bethell’s rapid 91, which helped set up the massive opening partnership. - Sam Curran’s game‑changing spell, taking three vital wickets in a short burst. - Rohit Sharma’s 138, which kept India in the hunt despite the eventual collapse. - Jos Buttler’s explosive 41 off 13 balls, adding crucial runs in the death overs.
Quotes from the captains underscored the emotions of the day. England’s Harry Brook expressed immense pride in his side’s effort and highlighted the template they set with the bat. India’s Shubman Gill reflected on the missed opportunities, noting that conceding too many runs in the final overs of England’s innings cost them dearly and that retaining wickets after 40 overs could have altered the outcome. Overall, the third ODI at Lord's will be remembered for Duckett’s historic century, Curran’s late‑innings heroics, and England’s ability to rebound from an early series loss to clinch a hard‑fought victory over the top‑ranked side.
The match not only provided a thrilling spectacle for fans but also reinforced England’s growing confidence in limited‑overs cricket, setting a strong foundation for future contests against elite opposition.