England wrapped up a hard‑earned series win against India with a 27‑run triumph in the third One‑Day International at Lord's, thanks to a towering century from Ben Duckett and a decisive late spell from Sam Curran. Duckett’s 141, the highest individual ODI score ever recorded at the historic ground, set the tone early, while Jos Buttler’s explosive 41 off just 13 deliveries added a final burst that pushed England to a formidable total of 387 for three.
India’s chase was anchored by Rohit Sharma, who produced a magnificent 138 from 110 balls – his 34th ODI hundred – and built solid partnerships with Shubman Gill (77) and Virat Kohli (74). The trio kept the visitors in contention, but a crucial seven‑ball spell from Curran, who claimed four wickets for 75 runs, turned the tide. He removed Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer and Kohli in quick succession, stalling the momentum and leaving India 260 for seven, 27 runs short of the target. The match began with England electing to bat, a decision that paid immediate dividends.
Duckett opened the innings with a masterclass in stroke‑play, striking 18 fours and a six after reaching his century, surpassing Sir Viv Richards’ long‑standing Lord's record of 138 not out set in 1979. Jacob Bethell contributed a rapid 91 off 93 balls, forming a record 192‑run opening partnership that left the Indian bowlers scrambling. Joe Root added a quickfire 74, and Buttler’s late cameo of 41, packed with four fours and three sixes, ensured England finished strongly, posting 387/3 after the full 50 overs. India’s reply started brightly, with Rohit and Gill compiling a 147‑run opening stand that gave the visitors hope of chasing one of the highest totals in ODI history.
However, a cramp recurrence forced Gill to retire briefly, and after 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 required run rate began to climb sharply. Sam Curran’s spell in the death overs proved pivotal. After India were 303 for two, needing 84 runs from the final 39 balls, Curran delivered a decisive over that yielded three wickets – Kishan, Iyer and Kohli – and broke the partnership that had seemed unassailable.
The pressure mounted, and India fell short, ending at 260 for seven. The series win marked a significant turnaround for England after a six‑wicket loss in the opening ODI at Edgbaston.
The English side not only clinched the three‑match series 2‑1 but also completed a clean sweep of the preceding four‑match T20 series, underscoring their dominance over the world‑number‑one side across formats. Harry Brook, who won the toss for the third time in the series and chose to bat, praised his teammates’ discipline and communication, noting that the early batting displays from Duckett and Bethell set a solid template.
"We were no wickets down after 30 overs and never looked like we were taking unnecessary risks," Brook said after the match. Indian captain Shubman Gill reflected on the defeat, acknowledging that the team had been in the game until the 45th over of England’s innings but had leaked too many runs in the final three overs, which ultimately cost them. "If we had kept wickets in hand after 40 overs, we would have been in a stronger position," he added. Joe Root, named Player of the Series with 249 runs across three games and never dismissed, expressed pride in the comeback.
"Bouncing back from the first‑match loss and beating the No. 1 side is incredibly rewarding. It shows we are moving in the right direction after our Sri Lanka success," Root remarked. Statistically, the match featured several milestones: Duckett’s 141 became the highest individual ODI score at Lord’s, and his century was his fourth in the format.
Bethell’s 91 placed him among the few English players to score a near‑century in a high‑pressure ODI. For India, Rohit’s 138 placed him alongside the elite group of batsmen who have scored 130+ runs in a chase against a top‑ranked opponent. Overall, the third ODI at Lord's was a showcase of aggressive batting, strategic captaincy, and match‑turning bowling. England’s ability to post a massive total and then defend it with disciplined, wicket‑taking bowling highlighted their growth as a unit.
The series win adds to England’s recent successes against India and sets a positive tone for upcoming international fixtures, while India will look to regroup and address the late‑over vulnerabilities that proved costly in this encounter.