England defeated India by 27 runs in a high-scoring third and final ODI at Lord’s to win the three-match series 2-1. Chasing a daunting target of 388, India finished on 360/7, with Rohit Sharma’s magnificent 138 proving insufficient as England held their nerve to seal their first bilateral ODI series win over the world’s top-ranked side since 2018.
England posted a record-breaking 387/3 after opting to bat first. Ben Duckett smashed 141 off 135 balls, the highest individual ODI score ever recorded at Lord’s, surpassing the long-standing record set by Viv Richards in 1979. He shared a 192-run opening partnership with Jacob Bethell, who made a brilliant 91, while Joe Root remained unbeaten on 74. Captain Jos Buttler then provided the late flourish with an explosive 41 not out from just 13 deliveries, helping England add 82 runs in the final five overs.
India began the chase aggressively, with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill (77) putting together a 147-run opening stand. Rohit reached his century in just 88 balls and looked set to guide India to victory. Virat Kohli added a fluent 74, keeping India in contention deep into the innings.
The turning point came when Jacob Bethell dismissed Rohit, breaking India’s momentum. England then tightened their grip as Sam Curran produced a match-winning spell, claiming 4 wickets for 75 runs, including the crucial dismissals of Kohli and KL Rahul. India lost key wickets in quick succession and, despite a spirited lower-order effort, fell short by 27 runs.
Despite the defeat, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli achieved a significant milestone during the match, becoming the first Indian batting pair to register 30 century partnerships in One-Day Internationals. However, the landmark was overshadowed by England’s clinical all-round performance, which secured both the match and the series.
