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Key Points

Sanjay Manjrekar praised England's measured approach in their thrilling Test win over India. Duckett and Crawley's 188-run stand set the tone, blending caution with aggression. Manjrekar also acknowledged India's fight, crediting Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur for keeping the contest alive. Joe Root's match-winning knock further underlined his class in high-pressure chases.

Key Points: Manjrekar Praises Duckett-Crawley Stand in England's Test Win Over India

  • Duckett's 149 leads England's historic 371-run chase
  • Manjrekar highlights Crawley-Duckett's disciplined approach
  • Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur keep India in the fight
  • Joe Root's match-winning knock earns high praise
2 min read

They simply played old-fashioned, sensible Test cricket: Sanjay Manjrekar reflects on Duckett-Crawley 188 opening stand

Sanjay Manjrekar lauds Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley's 188-run opening stand as England clinch a thrilling Test win against India at Headingley.

"They simply played old-fashioned, sensible Test cricket. – Sanjay Manjrekar"

New Delhi June 25

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar lauded England's clinical performance on the final day of the first test against India at Headingley, Leeds. He praised England batters Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley for their brilliant 188 opening stand.

Duckett's masterful 149 set the tone for a historic run chase as England chased down the target of 371 to defeat India by five wickets at Headingley. With the win, England take a 1-0 lead in the five-match Test series. JioHotstar expert Sanjay Manjrekar said while speaking on Match Centre Live, "Duckett and Crawley took their time -- they respected the conditions, and they respected the fact that the opposition had a guy named Jasprit Bumrah. In that first hour, there was absolutely no sign of 'Bazball'. They simply played old-fashioned, sensible Test cricket."

He also praised Indian seamer Prasidh Krishna for picking up two wickets in the second innings, and Shardul Thakur's wickets in the second session gave India fresh hope.

"Prasidh's double strike swung the match again in India's direction. And though the game started slipping, Shardul Thakur came in and gave India fresh hope. So, it wasn't a case of England dominating from start to finish. India were still pressing for a win late into the final day -- proving they're a tough side to beat, even in these conditions," he added.

Manjrekar also reflected on former England skipper Joe Root's match-winning innings during England's historic chase on Day 5.

"This is something he's made a habit of -- even in another format. In 50-over cricket recently, he played a brilliant innings where he remained 160 not out in a big run chase, and the next-best contribution in that innings was around 50 or 60. That's Joe Root -- one of the all-time greats. It's always good to see players like Joe Root and Kane Williamson in Test cricket," Manjrekar said.

The final day saw England produce a near-flawless run chase. Led by Ben Duckett's stunning 149 and key contributions from Zak Crawley, Joe Root and Jamie Smith, the hosts reached the target in just 82 overs, finishing at 373/5 to clinch a five-wicket win.

Duckett was awarded player of the match for his brilliance in the match.

Brief scores: India 471 & 364 (KL Rahul 137, Rishabh Pant 118; Josh Tongue 3/72) vs England 373/5 (Ben Duckett 149, Zak Crawley 65; Shardul Thakur 2/51).

- ANI

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Reader Comments

A
Arjun P.
England played brilliantly, no doubt. But our bowlers lacked penetration in crucial moments. Bumrah can't do it alone every time - others need to step up. Still, proud of how our batters performed in foreign conditions! 🇮🇳🏏
P
Priya K.
Manjrekar's analysis is spot on! Duckett-Crawley partnership was the game changer. We missed Jadeja's control in the middle overs. Hope team management gives more chances to young spinners in next match 🤞 #INDvsENG
R
Rahul D.
Test cricket at its best! England showed why they're dangerous at home. But let's not forget our boys scored 471 in first innings - that's no small feat. Series is still open, and I believe we'll bounce back stronger 💪
S
Sneha M.
Why are we always so dependent on Bumrah? Other pacers need to learn consistency. Prasidh showed glimpses but needs more match practice. Also, where was our slip catching? So many dropped chances cost us dearly 😔
V
Vikram S.
Joe Root is pure class! As an Indian fan, I respect his game so much. But our middle order needs to show same temperament in crunch situations. KL and Pant did well, but others must contribute consistently.
N
Neha T.
England adapted better to conditions - that's the difference between good and great teams. We need to work on our 4th innings bowling plans. Still, long way to go in series! #BelieveInBlue

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