England’s newly formed opening pair of Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell delivered a record-breaking partnership to give their side full control against India in the third ODI at Lord’s on Sunday.
The left-handed combination put on a 192-run opening stand, setting England’s highest-ever opening partnership against India in ODI cricket. The effort surpassed the previous mark of 160, achieved by Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow at the 2019 ODI World Cup in Edgbaston.
The stand carried added significance as just the second time since the 2023 ODI World Cup that both England openers have registered half-centuries in the same ODI innings. The earlier instance saw Duckett and Jamie Smith accomplish the feat against the West Indies at The Oval last year.
At Lord’s, the performance ended a 28-year wait. The last England opening duo to each score fifty or more in an ODI at the famous ground was Nick Knight and Mike Atherton against Sri Lanka in 1998.
Duckett reached his fifty in unusually measured fashion, bringing up the milestone from 64 deliveries. It stands as the second-slowest half-century among his 13 ODI scores of fifty-plus, behind only his 67-ball effort against Sri Lanka in Colombo earlier this year.
England’s Highest Opening Partnerships Against India:
- 164* – Ben Duckett & Jacob Bethell, Lord’s (2026)
- 160 – Jason Roy & Jonny Bairstow, Edgbaston (2019)
- 158 – Alastair Cook & Ian Bell, Rajkot (2013)
- 135 – Jason Roy & Jonny Bairstow, Pune (2021)
The record-setting alliance laid an ideal platform for England in the series decider, with Duckett and Bethell blending patience and fluent strokeplay to leave India’s bowlers without answers.
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