England clinched a decisive 27‑run series win over India in the third One‑Day International at Lord's, thanks to a towering innings from Ben Duckett and a late‑hour spell of wickets by Sam Curran. Duckett’s spectacular 141 from 135 deliveries set a new record for the highest individual ODI score at the historic ground, marking his fourth century in the format.
His knock was complemented by a blistering cameo from Jos Buttler, who smashed 41 runs off just 13 balls, propelling England to a formidable total of 387 for three. India’s reply was led by Rohit Sharma, who produced a masterful 138 off 110 balls, his 34th ODI hundred, and forged substantial partnerships with Shubman Gill (77) and Virat Kohli (74). Despite a solid start, the chase faltered when Curran delivered a decisive seven‑ball burst, claiming the wickets of Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer and Kohli, which halted India’s momentum and left them 27 runs short of the target. The match summary reads as follows: England posted 387‑3 in their full 50 overs, with Duckett’s 141, Jacob Bethell’s 91, Joe Root’s swift 74, and Buttler’s explosive 41.
India managed 260‑7 in reply, anchored by Sharma’s 138, Gill’s 77 and Kohli’s 74, while England’s bowlers, led by Curran’s 4‑75, restricted the visitors. After dropping the first ODI by six wickets at Edgbaston, England rebounded strongly, securing a 2‑1 series win over the world‑number‑one side and adding a clean 4‑0 sweep in the preceding T20 series. Harry Brook, who won the toss for the third time in the series and elected to bat, saw his decision pay off immediately as England’s openers capitalised on an Indian attack that lacked the presence of the injured pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. England’s opening partnership set a record 192‑run stand, with Bethell eventually dismissing Rohit Sharma at cow‑corner, just nine runs shy of an emotional century on a day when Lord’s honoured Sir Garfield Sobers.
Duckett, after reaching his century, accelerated further, hitting 18 fours and a six to surpass Sir Viv Richards’ 138‑not‑out record from 1979 and establish a new personal best at the venue before being caught and bowled by Prince Yadav. Root continued his run of form, registering his sixth consecutive ODI half‑century, while Buttler’s four fours and three sixes in a rapid final burst added 82 runs in the last five overs, sealing England’s imposing total. India faced the daunting task of chasing the second‑highest run total in ODI history to win the series, but early optimism grew as Rohit and Gill compiled a 147‑run opening partnership.
Gill, however, suffered a recurrence of the cramp that forced his retirement in the first ODI at Edgbaston, and after receiving treatment, the Indian captain fell lbw to Adil Rashid, who claimed his first wicket of the series. Rohit later added his eighth ODI century on English soil, scoring 84‑ball 138 in a 113‑run stand with Kohli, as the two Indian veterans sought to script a memorable finale to what could be their last international appearances in England. Bethell’s breakthrough spell, taking Rohit’s wicket for 1‑49, reduced India to 260‑2, yet Kohli’s first fifty at Lord’s in any format kept the chase alive.
Ultimately, Curran’s late brilliance turned the tide, as India were bowled out for 360‑7, handing England their fifth win in six encounters and only their second ODI series triumph over India since 2012. England captain Harry Brook reflected on the victory, stating, "I am extremely proud.
We fought hard, communicated well like we did in the T20s and have managed to scrape a series win against the world No 1 team. We want to set a template with the bat and the way Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell started with the bat was phenomenal. To be no wickets down after 30 overs and not look like they were taking a risk." India’s captain Shubman Gill offered his perspective: "I think we were right in the game up until the 45th over of England's innings. We gave up too many runs in the last three overs and that's where the game went too far out from us.
We thought if we had wickets in hand after 40 overs, we would be in the game. After the powerplay, we tried to get the required run rate down." Joe Root, named Player of the Series with 249 runs across three matches and never dismissed, praised his side’s resilience: "To bounce back from our defeat in the first ODI and beat the No 1 side is the most rewarding thing. To back up a brilliant series win in Sri Lanka with this shows we are going in the right direction in a really positive way.
It is great to see the guys developing and learning." Overall, the third ODI at Lord's showcased high‑octane batting, strategic bowling changes, and a dramatic finish that underlined England’s resurgence on the world stage, while India displayed moments of brilliance that fell just short of the required mark.