On the day Lord’s paid tribute to the late Sir Garfield Sobers, it was fitting that two free-flowing left handers helped England to a fine series victory over India.
It would be wrong to put Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell in the same class as Sobers, who passed away aged 89 last week.
It is unlikely either will ever manage six sixes in an over either. But as the great West Indian did throughout a glittering career, England’s opening pair put their opposition’s attack to the sword with some swashbuckling batting in what was a Lord’s run-fest.
Duckett and Bethell put on a partnership of 192 which laid the platform for a mammoth England total of 387 for three – one which India threatened to overtake at one point thanks to the genius of Rohit Sharma.
Duckett’s 141 and England’s collective efforts were the highest individual and team scores in a one-day international at Lord’s.
It was a day that records tumbled. Rohit’s 138 in what was a thrilling Indian chase nearly surpassed Duckett, but England did just enough. Their winning margin of 27 runs in a game which saw 747 scored in total, meant they followed their 4-0 20-over series success against India with a 2-1 win in the 50-over action.
Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell powered England to an ODI series win over India at Lord’s
Duckett smashed 141 and Bethell hit 91 as England posted a mammoth score of 387-3
England then bowled well at the death as India finished up just short on 360-7
Given India are the top-ranked team in the format and England are seventh, that is not to be sniffed at. It also provides some much-needed cheer for English cricket after the nadir of last winter’s Ashes series, this summer’s Test defeat by New Zealand and the subsequent departures of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes as the men in charge of that side.
After a minute’s silence in memory of Sobers, Duckett and Bethell set about India’s bowlers – shorn of superstar paceman Jasprit Bumrah due to a knee injury – with relish after Harry Brook won the toss and chose to bat. Without Bumrah, India captain Shubman Gill lacked control. Duckett and Bethell scored freely. India never really recovered.
When Prince Yadav entered the attack, his five wides summed up his team’s raggedness. Buoyed by the confidence of a fast start, Duckett and Bethell soon unleashed their party tricks. Out came the scoops and reverse sweeps. Bethell pulled for six, unleashed a glorious on-drive and smashed Axar Patel into the pavilion.
England’s 100 came up in just the 16th over. Bethell looked set to be the first to reach a century, so it was a surprise when he was caught in the deep for a superb 91 from 93 balls.
Duckett went to a new level when joined by the irrepressible Joe Root, bringing up three figures and his fourth one-day international century from 108 balls with a boundary off Gurnoor Brar.
By the time Duckett was caught and bowled by Yadav, his superlative innings – which included 18 fours and a six and came from 135 balls – had put England in complete control. There was more pain to come for India.
Root became the first Englishman to bring up six consecutive one-day half centuries with his unbeaten, chanceless 74. In doing so, he also achieved the rare feat of not being dismissed across the course of a three-match series after previous not out scores of 76 and 99 at Edgbaston and Cardiff.
Jos Buttler’s late cameo of 41 from just 13 balls only served to rub salt in already gaping Indian wounds as he and Root unleashed carnage in the final throes of the England innings.
India’s response from Rohit and Gill was initially circumspect. The former seems poised to step away from Indian duty imminently.
But when Josh Tongue came into the England attack, Rohit pulled him and then Sam Curran for six knowing he couldn’t wait forever.
Gill then joined the action, immediately putting Adil Rashid under pressure to reach his 50. Despite looking far from hurried, an Indian chase seemed possible.
Gill produced the highlight shot, holding his pose after a regal cover drive off Gus Atkinson. Rohit, 39, then followed it by scooping the same bowler for four to bring up a half century of his own.
At 147-0, England were in desperate need of a breakthrough. Rashid was the one to provide it, dismissing Gill leg before wicket on review for 77.
Enter Virat Kohli. India’s hero instantly got to work alongside Rohit. At the 30-over mark, India were ahead of England’s score at the same stage thanks in no small part to Rohit smashing Tongue for back-to-back maximums.
His celebration on reaching his 34th one-day 100 from just 84 balls was understated given he knew there was significant work still to do. He and Kohli ploughed on regardless.
While conditions were in favour of those wielding the willow, the purity of the pair’s striking was simply magnificent. And yet it still wasn’t quite enough.
Rohit Sharma rolled back the years on potentially his final international appearance for India
Virat Kohli also made 74 in what is likely to be the legendary pair’s last match in England
Sharma started to struggle physically and called for physio treatment as India’s required rate reached nearly 11 runs an over.
It was a task that proved even beyond two of the best to ever do it for India. Rohit was virtually on one leg as he survived a leg before appeal from Curran and then smashed Bethell into the stands, only to be dismissed the next ball clean bowled as his age caught up with him.
Kohli raged against the dying of the light, reaching his 50 with a straight six off Will Jacks but his efforts were in vain. Substitute Rehan Ahmed took two fine catches off the impressive Curran who dismissed Kohli for 74.
