After a cascade of wickets during the much-criticised Test here six weeks ago came a landslide of one-day international runs. In the end, despite a ferocious century from Rohit Sharma that turned Lord’s into his personal playground, England had enough on the board to seal a 2-1 series victory against India.

Harry Brook must have thought it was mission accomplished for his side at the halfway stage, with Ben Duckett’s 141 from 135 balls having powered them to 387 for three. Both were men’s ODI records at Lord’s, with Duckett having surpassed Viv Richards and the unbeaten 138 made during the World Cup in 1979.

But amid speculation about his international future – reports of a recent tap on the shoulder – Sharma erupted with a display of controlled brutality. His 138 from 110 balls, first allied with another glossy 77 from Shubman Gill, had India tracking with the target and their vocal supporters dreaming of a famous heist.

That was until Jacob Bethell, fresh from 91 with the bat, finally slid one of his left-arm tweakers past a sweep shot and into the stumps to see India 262 for two in the 39th over. It was the key moment in a run chase that eventually saw the tourists finish on 360 for seven and go down by a margin of 27 runs.

Time to wrap this up as we all have another sporting occasion to savour. Thanks for your company and correspondence.

It’s been a fine series, well won by England, who had to come from behind. Harry Brook has proved himself a very good captain on the field, brave and imaginative. Can he please become a good one off the field too?

Meanwhile, in New Jersey … do join the great Rob Smyth.

England had several men of the match. Ben Duckett made 141, the highest ODI score at Lord’s, but he was upstaged by Jos Buttler with a barnstorming 41 off 13 balls. Joe Root, almost unnoticed, made yet another unbeaten fifty. Then Jacob Bethell added some wily bowling to an innings of 91. But the bowler who made all the difference, after a resplendent hundred from Rohit Sharma, was Sam Curran, who took four wickets in no time with his licorice allsorts.

49th over: India 348-7 (Gurnoor Brar 7, Arshdeep Singh 14) Archer to bowl his last over. Another four from Arshdeep, who sees a full toss and guides it for a rather elegant four. And another, dropped by Buttler – a tough chance, though it seems unlikely to matter as India now need 41 off the final over.

48th over: India 339-7 (Gurnoor Brar 2, Arshdeep Singh 9) Hang on, Ashdeep wants a word! He hits a meaty four over mid-on and then a more artful one past extra-cover. But the rate still climbs, mercilessly, to 24. And Sam Curran can be very proud of his figures: 10-0-75-4.

47th over: India 328-6 (Axar Patel 2, Gurnoor Brar 1) Brook had taken Jacob Bethell off at last, with the very respectable figures of 7-0-49-1. And like so many of Brook’s bowling changes today it went well. Back came Archer, and although he went for those two fours, again it’s a price England can easily afford to pay. They have a safety net here, supplied, unusually, by some pyrotechnics – that series of explosions from Jos Buttler earlier.

46th over: India 319-5 (KL Rahul 4, Axar Patel 2) So Sam Curran, such a fierce competitor, has taken three wickets in seven balls after we had only seen five in the whole day up to a few minutes ago. He has silenced the India supporters, some of whom are now caught trickling out. And he has left India with two new batters at the crease, who somehow have to score another 69 off four overs.

45th over: India 314-4 (Kohli 74, KL Rahul 1) Brook, emboldened – not that he needs to be – keeps Bethell on for a seventh over. This isn’t captaincy, it’s a high-wire act. Bethell starts well, conceding only four off the first five balls, before Kohli whacks a six. India need 74 off the last five overs at a rate of 14.8.

44th over: India 304-4 (Kohli 63, KL Rahul 0) So India’s less experienced batters have failed to rise to this steep challenge. And Sam Curran has bowled a fabulous over – four runs, two wickets. He celebrated the second as if he felt this was now in the bag, but Kohli may have something to say about that.

43rd over: India 300-2 (Kohli 63, Ishan Kishan 14) It’s still Bethell. And it works as the batters manage only ones and twos. India need 88 off 42 balls, or 12.57 an over in old money.

41st over: India 278-2 (Kohli 45, Ishan Kishan 10) Brook liked that wicket from Bethell so much, he’s kept him on for a fifth over. Is this wise? It goes OK at first (ones and a two), but then Ishan Kishan helps himself to a slog-sweep for four, seeing it so early that he hits it straight. Eleven off the over!

Ishan Kishan, by the way, does not rhyme, at least according to Shubman Gill. At the toss on Thursday he pronounced his name I-SHARN Kish’n.

40th over: India 267-2 (Kohli 42, Ishan Kishan 3) Rohit made 138 off 110 balls with 17 fours and five handsome sixes. What a giant he has been. He added 147 with Shubman Gill and 113 with Virat Kohli – captains the lot of them. Now here is Ishan Kishan, who brings less authority but will have faced this sort of challenge many times in Twenty20s. He;’s a left-hander, so Brook brings back Will Jacks’s off-breaks. He does well, going for just five singles.

With ten overs left, India need 121, so the rate is above 12 for the first time.

39th over: India 262-2 (Kohli 39, Ishan Kishan 1) Top marks to Bethell and to Brook, for giving him a fourth over amid all this tension. Nine off the over, but that’s a price England will happily pay for the wicket.

“England’s only hope,” said Oli Booth, just before that. “Get Cartwright, Illingworth and Shackleton on!” A line aimed at our older readers.

38th over: India 253-1 (Rohit 132, Kohli 37) Curran almost nabs Rohit, whose square drive is close to Root at cover point – but no cigar, and away it goes for four. And then he thinks he has nabbed him, with an LBW shout, as Rohit misses a sweep … No finger, a review, and it’s umpire’s call! That was the moon ball, 48mph. Curran likes it so much he tries another one, which Rohit lofts for four.

India need 135 from 12 overs at 11.25. Steep but not impossible.

37th over: India 243-1 (Rohit 123, Kohli 36) Brook keeps Bethell on for a third over. He starts well before dishing up a long hop, on a platter. Kohli helps himself to a pull for four, then drives for two. Seven off the over, so Bethell has 3-0-15-0, which is a great effort in the circumstances, even if Rohit is struggling with his cramp.

36th over: India 236-1 (Rohit 122, Kohli 30) Curran continues and beats Kohli outside off – twice in a row. Brook might want to put a slip in. “Only four off his last 11 balls,” Mike Atherton says of Kohli, who then manages a single. Can Rohit produce another of his effortless fours? Not this time. He sends a dab past Rashid at backward point, but Duckett sweeps up. Curran bowls a slow bouncer, which Kohli misses as he dances down the track. Then there’s a better shot from Kohli, who drives past cover and picks up two. But it’s only four off the over, so the required rate rises to 10.85.

And now Rohit has cramp too. Where’s a magnesium-infused powder when you need it?

35th over: India 232-1 (Rohit 121, Kohli 27) Brook, who will never die wondering, risks a second over from his seventh bowler. Bethell repays his faith by reeling off three dots. Kohli takes a single and Rohit makes the difference, again, with a slog-sweep for four. Only five off the over: somewhere up there Garry Sobers, who was a Bethell fan and a fellow Bajan, has a smile on his face.

34th over: India 227-1 (Rohit 117, Kohli 26) Curran backs up Bethell’s good work – dot, dot, false shot as Kohli gets away with a miscue into the gap at cover. But then Rohit shows his old mate how it’s done by going inside-out over extra-cover, and he celebrates with a flip-flick for four more. Too good!

That takes him to 1000 runs in ODis against England at an average of exactly 50. Nine off the over, and India are 15 ahead of where England were at this stage.

33rd over: India 218-1 (Rohit 109, Kohli 25) Bethell, purveying his gentle slow left-arm, starts with an appeal for LBW against Rohit, who misses a sweep but collects two leg-byes. After managing a pair of dots, Bethell bowls a wide, but he gets out of the over with just five from it. Good effort.

India need 170 from 17 overs, so the arithmetic is straightforward, even if the task is not.

32nd over: India 213-1 (Rohit 108, Kohli 24) England, to paraphrase Fagin in Oliver!, have gotta take a wicket or two. Sam Curran beats Rohit with a low, slow thing, too low to yield a catch behind. And beats him again by going wide-ish of off as Rohit backs away. Jos Buttler gives that a round of applause. But it’s third time lucky for Rohit as Curran goes pace-on, allowing a cut for four.

Ian Ward notices that Harry Brook is off the field, possibly asking Brendon McCullum what the hell to try next. So Jacob Bethell is in charge, at a tender age (22) and from an unlikely position (deep square). Brook comes back on and seems to be telling Bethell he wants him to bowl. Brave, minister, very brave.

“G’day Tim!” says Mehmet. “I’m getting vibes of the remarkable South Africa-Australia series, where record run chases were achieved. This being a record chase on this ground.” If it happens!

30th over: India 194-1 (Rohit 96, Kohli 17) Brook takes Jofra off, saving his last two overs for the death. On comes Sam Curran, with his left-arm seam Variety Pack of slower balls. Five singles and a two: good from Curran, but the momentum is still with the elderly gentlemen. After 30 overs, England were 192-0, so there’s nothing in it – but England did go berserk at the end, with Jos Buttler and Joe Root making 62 off the last three overs.

29th over: India 187-1 (Rohit 92, Kohli 14) Rashid gets a breather (6-0-40-1) as Brook brings back Josh Tongue. Kohli attacks him, lacing a cut shot with a dash of savagery, but Sam Curran makes a magnificent stop and it’s only a single. India need something big and Rohit strokes an on-drive over midwicket for six, then goes over long-off for six more. That takes him to his highest score at Lord’s, apparently (Kohli’s is 45!), and it brings the crowd to life. The rate nudges down to 9.57.

28th over: India 172-1 (Rohit 79, Kohli 13) Brook, longing for a second wicket, keeps Archer on for his eighth over. Rohit gives him the charge to the wrong ball – a lifter – and gets away with a slice, coming back for two. Archer looks pensive as he walks back to his mark. He beats Kohli’s attempted pull with a short ball that keeps low and appeals for LBW. No raised finger, and no review either. With the commentators saying Kohli will just see out the last ball, he surprises them by stepping away to leg and belting a pull over midwicket.

Eight off the over, so the rate nudges up to 9.81. But it does feel as if India can do this.

27th over: India 164-1 (Rohit 76, Kohli 8) India need a big over from these two old gents. Rohit obliges by swinging Rashid for four, and then Kohli joins the fun with a straight drive for four more, hit with some venom. Thirteen off the over! India need 224 from the last 23 overs at a rate of 9.73. Still possible.

26th over: India 151-1 (Rohit 69, Kohli 2) Harry Brook might now be summoning Jofra Archer, who has dismissed Kohli twice in this series – but he’s already on. He’s bowling to Rohit first, starting strongly with four dots. Rohit goes for a big shot and almost give a catch to Jacob Bethell, leaping like a salmon. Kohli, left with just one ball to face, tucks it for a single. Only two off the over! The required rate climbs to 9.87.

25th over: India 149-1 (Rohit 68, Kohli 1) Out walks Virat Kohli, to a thunderous welcome. “Probably,” says Nasser Hussain, “for the last time in England. One of the great chasers!” He gets off the mark with a comfortable push down the ground. But this over has been a triumph for Adil Rashid, who picked the right time to take his first wicket of the series.

“The slider,” says Stuart Broad, watching the replay. “Jos Buttler knew immediately.”

24th over: India 146-0 (Rohit 67, Gill 77) Brook brings back Jofra Archer, hoping for a breakthrough. Rohit, hogging the strike now as Gill tries to shake off his cramp, gets away with a top-edged pull and then plays a much better shot, a clip over midwicket. Both go for four, that’s 11 off the over and India can still dream.

23rd over: India 135-0 (Rohit 58, Gill 75) Brook takes Atkinson off again (6-0-24-0) and brings back Rashid. Both batters go after him, Rohit successfully with a late cut for two and a sweep for four, Gill less so with a mis-hit that drops tantalisingly short of long-off.

22nd over: India 127-0 (Rohit 51, Gill 74) Gill, facing Jacks, hits a sumptuous slog-sweep for six – but, in the process, seems to give himself cramp, the affliction that caused him to retire hurt at Edgbaston on Tuesday. Still, India won that match and they could yet win this one. Gill manages to add a chip for two and a tuck for a single before getting some stretches from the physio. Ten off the over, which is a little more than India need (9.32).

20th over: India 109-0 (Rohit 42, Gill 65) After a good little spell from Atkinson, Brook decides to keep half his overs in the fridge and turns to his sixth bowler, Will Jacks, so it’s spin at both ends. Jacks is the latest bowler to be cut for four by Gill, but does well otherwise – three dots, two singles.

19th over: India 103-0 (Rohit 41, Gill 60) Rohit sees an even-slower ball from Rashid and sweps it for a single to bring up the 100 partnership. It’s been good, but has it been good enough? This over goes for six, as Gill cuts for three, but Rashid retorts by drawing a false shot from him that might have yielded a catch to silly point, had there been one. India need 285 at 9.19 an over.

18th over: India 97-0 (Rohit 39, Gill 56) Atkinson continues and beats Gill on the inside edge as he advances down the track. Only one off the over, and suddenly the rate required is above nine.

17th over: India 96-0 (Rohit 38, Gill 56) Rashid, after that bruising start, needs a better over. Brook helps him out by moving Jacob Bethell, England’s sharpest ground fielder, to extra-cover, and Rashid rises to the challenge with a lovely over, full of craft and flight, with one great leg-break that beats Gill all ends up. And only two singles and a leg-bye.

14th over: India 81-0 (Rohit 36, Gill 45) Gill’s bat is a feather as he dabs Tongue for two, then suddenly an axe as he plays a cover drive for four with some brutality. Tongue dusts himself off and appeals for LBW against Rohit. It’s nice and straight but too high – Rohit may find that he has a bruise on his right thigh. Nine off the over: that’s more like it!

13th over: India 72-0 (Rohit 35, Gill 37) Sam Curran produces that ball of his that makes you think you’re watching a slow-motion replay. It loops towards Rohit, who waits an age for it and then meets it with a respectful push for a single, like a dad playing beach cricket with two small children. Gill, less patient, dances down the track and lofts Curran for four with a high elbow.

Seven off the over – and still the rate creeps up. It’s now 8.54 an over. WinViz gives India a 25pc chance of managing it, which feels a little flattering, but you never know.

12th over: India 65-0 (Rohit 34, Gill 31) Gill, facing Tongue for the first time, stays deep in his crease and hits a pull for four with an air of disdain. england’s new-ball bowlers demanded respect and bowled eight overs for 35 between them. The two back-up seamers, even with that maiden from Tongue, have gone for 30 off four overs . Yet they still carry a threat and Tongue jags the ball away to beat Rohit with the last ball of the over. No wickets so far, but it’s been a good contest.

11th over: India 60-0 (Rohit 34, Gill 26) Jofra takes a breather, after bowling better than his figures might suggest (5-0-24-0). On comes Sam Curran, with his grunting tenacity and wily variations. Rohit decides to treat him like a spinner, moves over to the off side and plays a fine sweep for four. “You sometimes don’t mind that as a bowler,” says Broad, “because it’s a sign that you’re making the batter do something different.” Next ball, though, Rohit does something that comes very naturally: he plays a swivel-pull for six.

9th over: India 49-0 (Rohit 24, Gill 25) The Archer-Gill battle continues. Gill manages another pull for four, but Archer, who is treating this like a Test match, soon has him edging to gully’s left hand. Eager to get off strike, Gill takes a kamikaze run and is relieved to find Sam Curran’s throw going astray.

Meanwhile Simon McMahon has an answer to my question from the 6th over. “I don’t know about the score, but United would have lost, I’m sure of that.” Ha. “Lionel Messi actually played at Tannadice back in 2008 (I think) when Barcelona came for a friendly. Whatever happened to him?”

He moved to Miami and was never heard of again.

8th over: India 43-0 (Rohit 23, Gill 20) Harry Brook makes his first bowling change, replacing the admirable Atkinson (3-0-11-0) with the less astringent Josh Tongue. Rohit seizes the opportunity with both hands. The first ball is flicked for four, the second pulled for four, the fifth flick-pulled for six.

That’s 14 off the over, and suddenly India are back in business. They need another 345 off 42 overs at a rate of just over eight. Piece of cake!

7th over: India 29-0 (Rohit 9, Gill 20) It’s still Jofra, gliding up to the stumps, the closest thing England have ever had to Michael Holding. His excellent duel with Gill continues. Jofra manages three dots out of four, but the other ball is a win for Gill, a pull for four in front of square. India will be fine as long as their captain makes about 160.

6th over: India 24-0 (Rohit 8, Gill 16) Rohit doesn’t do urgency but even he can see that this run rate needs lifting. After getting little of the strike, he charges at Atkinson, abandons his usual elegance and gets his first four with a wild slash. Atkinson then cuts Gill in half like a magician before giving him a freebie on his pads, which is tucked away for two.

In other news, I have received an email. “Afternoon Tim,” says our old friend Simon McMahon. “Sky have just shown a graphic of the top 10 highest successful run chases in mens ODIs. South Africa’s 438-9 against Australia in Johannesburg is well known, but second on the list is Netherlands 374-6 against Scotland at Forthill CC in Dundee last year, a match I was at. Feels a bit like if yesterday’s third place play-off Bronze Medal match had been played at Tannadice.”

If it really had been played at Tannadice, what would the score have been?

5th over: India 17-0 (Rohit 3, Gill 14) Gill, seeing the need to Do Something, cuts Archer for four. Again Archer has a riposte, drawing an inside edge which could have hit the stumps had it not thudded into the pad. Harry Brook has one slip and a gully. Steve Waugh, in this situation, might have had a ring of five… and Gill duly sends an edge through the gap at second slip, though he does manage to keep it low. Advantage England!

4th over: India 10-0 (Rohit 2, Gill 8) Another tight over from Atkinson , allowing only a single from Rohit. No alarms for India yet, but I think we can say they’ve got off to a flopper. They’re already about 20 runs behind where they need to be.

3rd over: India 9-0 (Rohit 1, Gill 8) Archer beats Gill outside off, but again Gill answers back, with a classical off-drive for four. After that, Archer keeps him honest with four dots. This pitch isn’t as flat as India’s young bowlers made it look – there’s some seam movement and uneven bounce, which ”can be a bit stoppy” as Stuart Broad vividly remarked. But the outfield is fast and there are handsome rewards to be found for good strokeplay, as England’s top three showed with their calm accumulation and Jos Buttler confirmed with his fireworks.

2nd over: India 5-0 (Rohit 1, Gill 4) From the Nursery end it’s Gus Atkinson, fresh from his best ODi figures (3-50 at Cardiff). He starts with a half-volley, which Shubman Gill drives for two, but soon he’s making Gill jump and wince with a lifter. Gill, who doesn’t like to be ruffled, retorts with an elegant flick for a single.

1st over: India 2-0 (Rohit 1, Gill 1) One of India’s problems with the ball today was a lack of experience. That won’t be an issue with their batting. Out comes Rohit Sharma, with 288 ODIs under his belt. Facing Jofra Archer, he almost plays on first ball – there were a few moments like that for England’s openers – but then he gets off the mark with a typically comfy push into the covers. But it’s a nice accurate start from Jofra. His first over is a bit of a contrast to the last three of England’s innings, which went for 23, 23 and 16.

Harry Brook gathers his team in a huddle. “Right lads, just keep the runs down to seven and a half an over, OK?”

We don’t link to Twitter any more, following its owner’s successful campaign to turn it into a cesspit. But we can still quote from it and our cricket correspondent, Ali Martin, has just come up with a good line. “Joe Root’s series 76*, 99*, 74*,” he writes. “#NoAverageJoe”

Thanks Jim and afternoon everyone. So England have just piled up the highest one-day international total ever made at Lord’s. To win the series, all India have to do is break that record. On past form, one of their big names may go on strike and bat through the whole innings for 36 not out.

Righto, that’s me done. I’m going to raid the Lord’s media centre catering like a man possessed. Confit of duck? Beetroot fricassee? Wild fowl remoulade? Spam fritters? All bets are off.

Tim de Lisle will be along shortly to guide you through India’s chase. A mouth-watering prospect in itself. Thanks for your company.

49th over: England 371-3 (Root 65, Buttler 34) Jos Buttler is seeing it like a planet! He hangs on the back foot and baseball swats Prasidh down the ground for SIX and follows up with a swipe over mid on for SIX more! Prasidh responds with a good yorker but Buttler flicks the next away for four.

A wide is then gloved by Kishan behind the stumps and Root sees the opportunity to scamper down for a single with one ball to go. Shot! Root times the undercrackers off a yorker wide of off stump, the ball gliding away past point for four more. Incredible timing. England finishing very strong, 23 off the over and six balls to go.

48th over: England 348-3 (Root 60, Buttler 18) Root pulls Brar for four and then scampers a single into the off. Shot! Buttler plays one of those wristy flicks down the ground for four and then slices over cover for two. Uh oh – Brar sends down a waist high full toss! It is glanced away for four by Buttler and there will be a Free Hit now too. SIX! Buttler maaaarmalises a length ball in the slot over mid on for SIX!

Just the 23 runs off the over.

47th over: England 325-3 (Root 55, Buttler 1) Jos Buttler arrives in the middle, England have played well but they haven’t got away from India who have two of the all time best chasers in Sharma and Kohli, these final three overs are crucial. Buttler clips a single to get off the mark and be on strike for the start of the next.

46th over: England 315-2 (Root 50, Brook 10) Joe Root goes through to his sixth consecutive fifty in men’s ODIs. He’s the first Englishman to achieve the feat. A reverse scoop and a clip into the leg side take him to the half century, he waves his bat without any flourish. What a player.

45th over: England 305-2 (Root 45, Brook 5) Root nails a pull to a short ball from Arshdeep and collects four to take England over three hundred. There’s a mix up with the Yorkie pair and for a second both are at the same end but they eventually get through for a single off the final ball of the over, some sloppy fielding from Prasidh Krishna at point.

44th over: England 297-2 (Root 40, Brook 3) India celebrate the end of Duckett but it brings Harry Brook to the middle which is no bad thing for England as they look to maximise profits in these final overs. Brook opens his account with a firm drive to mid on for a single and then pulls powerfully for a couple to deep square where Rohit Sharma nearly fluffs it over the boundary rope.

43rd over: England 291-1 (Duckett 141, Root 38) Duckett swipes Arsdheep into the deep on the leg side where KL Rahul takes the catch but his momentum takes him over the boundary sponge! That’s SIX.

Duckett moves to 141* which is the highest score by any men’s batter in an ODI at Lord’s. He’s just pipped Sir Viv’s 138* against England here in 1979. A prettaay decent knock then.

42nd over: England 278-1 (Duckett 133, Root 34) Root heaves Yadav into the leg side, it’s not pretty but it is effective, four runs. Eight off the over but England should want and will need more.

41st over: England 270-1 (Duckett 131, Root 28) Root gets Axar away with a reverse-sweep for four, nine off the over. It takes Root to 313 runs without being dismissed in the series, that’s the most runs between dismissals for an England batter in ODI cricket, the previous best was by… Joe Root – 309 runs in 2018.

40th over: England 261-1 (Duckett 127, Root 23) Seven off Arshdeep, ten overs to go and Brook and Buttler in the hutch. Time to go tonto.

39th over: England 254-1 (Duckett 122, Root 21) Oh, after giving it the biggun thinking England are going to put pedal to metal… it is a quiet over from Axar – four singles nudged and nurdled.

38th over: England 250-1 (Duckett 120, Root 19) Root drives Brar down the ground for three, Duckett then tries to swipe him into the stands at square leg but gets a top edge that flies away for four. Here come England! Duckett lofts Brar for four more over cover and collects a brace down to deep point with a flashing blade. Four more! Duckett pulls for four more to make it nineteen off the over and 250 up. Do not adjust your set.

37th over: England 231-1 (Duckett 104, Root 16) Axar into his eighth over, Duckett and Root happy to collect the singles to keep the score ticking. Tee off soon lads?

35th over: England 216-1 (Duckett 97, Root 8) England have been going at just over a run a ball most of this innings, Axar Patel is nurdled around by Duckett and Root. 15 overs to go, the crowd beginning to get a bit restless, they want some boundaries to go with their nocellara olives and fizz.

34th over: England 212-1 (Duckett 90, Root 5) Gurnoor Brar back into the action, he pitches full to Duckett and is driven crisply down the ground for four. Duckett moves to 95…

33rd over: England 206-1 (Duckett 90, Root 5) Prasidh spears one into Root’s pads and there’s a loud appeal but it was sliding down and India choose not to review. England must be targeting at least 350 from here.

32nd over: England 202-1 (Duckett 89, Root 2) Stop press, Root goes for an expansive drive but connects only with fresh north west London air. Perhaps we’ll see a slightly more attacking Root from the get-go today given that he doesn’t have to firefight the innings. He tucks a single into the leg side to give Duckett the strike. Four! Duckett top edges over the keeper. Four more! He nails the next one though, pulling Arshdeep dismissively for four through midwicket. Two hundred up for England.

31st over: England 193-1 (Duckett 81, Root 1) Bethell and Duckett’s partnership of 192 runs is England’s highest against India in ODIs but it is over now as England’s finest jogs out to the middle. Joe Root time.

Prasidh greets him with him a bouncer and Root cuffs him away to deep square for a single. India finally have a wicket but England well and top and with the firepower of Messrs Brook and Buttler still to come.

30th over: England 192-0 (Duckett 81, Bethell 91) Bethell is all class, he take a couple of steps down to Prince and lofts easily for four over mid off to move into the nineties…

29th over: England 185-0 (Duckett 79, Bethell 86) Prasidh returns, Duckett greets him with a cut for two and a dismissive pull over midwicket for four. He was ready and waiting for the short ball and seemingly had so much time to swat it away. Shot! Duckett scoops and nails it, four more! Ten off the over in total, England cruising.

28th over: England 175-0 (Duckett 69, Bethell 86) Bethell continues on his merry way through the eighties with a flick off his hips for four. Prince Yadav thunders back to his mark, he knows that’s a gimme to a player of Bethell’s class. He goes much fuller in the rest of the over, trying to find the toe crushing yorker but instead sends down a couple of full bungers that are easily picked off for singles.

27th over: England 168-0 (Duckett 68, Bethell 81) Axar Patel pins a sweeping Duckett in front and there’s a mighty appeal from India. The umpire is unmoved and they immediately send it upstairs… NOT OUT! It pitched outside leg by a gnat’s eyebrow and India duly lose a review. Lucky Ducky.

26th over: England 164-0 (Duckett 66, Bethell 79) Just a single to Duckett off a tidy Prince Yadav over. England tick along, I wouldn’t say it isn’t engrossing out there but the conversation in the press box has turned to books and film. Let’s call them the Ishiguro overs.

25th over: England 163-0 (Duckett 65, Bethell 79) Duckett reverse hits Axar away through point for four. Seven off the over, India looking a bit short of inspiration here at Lord’s.

24th over: England 156-0 (Duckett 59, Bethell 78) Prince comes back. Bethell cloths a pull over midwicket and it trickles away for four, not the finest effort by the chasing fielder. 150 up for England.

23rd over: England 148-0 (Duckett 57, Bethell 73) Bethell trots down to Axar and plays a perfectly straight lofted drive for SIX. Sublime. Both batters work the gaps and take eleven off the over. India scratch their heads, they have no Bumrah to turn to to magic up a wicket but they need one, pronto.

22nd over: England 137-0 (Duckett 56, Bethell 63) Duckett glides Brar past point for two to bring up his fifty. This new opening pair doing the business for England. Shot! Duckett gets four in the same area, playing late and with deft hands.

21st over: England 129-0 (Duckett 49, Bethell 62) Axar, tall and lissom limbed twirls away from the Pavilion End. Duckett slaps into the leg side for a couple and nears a fifty of his own. Four off the over as the game enters something of a holding pattern. England could be bolder here, I wonder if Duckett might chance his arm a bit more soon.

20th over: England 125-0 (Duckett 46, Bethell 61) Brar beats Bethell outside off stump and implores the umpire to riase the finger, the keeper Kishan gives it the big one too but they don’t send it upstairs, replays show Bethell grazed the ground with his bat and there was no edge. A decent over from Brar though, threatening and just two runs off it.

19th over: England 123-0 (Duckett 45, Bethell 60) Cardinal sin from Axar, he drops short and is spanked away easily through the leg side by Duckett.

18th over: England 116-0 (Duckett 39, Bethell 59) Brar changes ends and bustles in from the Nursery End. He squares Bethell up and the ball flies wide of a diving Ishan Kishan behind the sticks. Replays show that it wasn’t an edge but flew off his thigh pad. Nine runs off the over all told, England in cruise control.

17th over: England 107-0 (Duckett 36, Bethell 57) Bethell paddles for three and the same number of singles are picked off easily through square leg. It’s been measure stuff from England, they’ve perhaps learnt from Joe Root that ODI batting is all about getting in, finding a tempo and making it count.

16th over: England 101-0 (Duckett 34, Bethell 53) Cheers ring around Lord’s as Bethell goes to a half century and brings up his fifty with a top edged pull that goes over the keeper and away for four. Time for some spin, Axar Patel is coming on for a twirl.

15th over: England 96-0 (Duckett 34, Bethell 48) Here are those partnerships that Tim was mentioning.

Bethell unfurls another beautiful drive down the ground to head to the cusp of a half century. His highest score here is a 58 in an ODI against South Africa last summer, he’s looking in fine fettle today. Duckett too, he laces Gurnoor for four through cover to take England confidently to drinks.

14th over: England 86-0 (Duckett 30, Bethell 43) Bethell tucks Arshdeep off his pads for a single and Duckett clubs for two into the leg side. England ticking over above a run a ball, it’s been measured but this pair are laying a very solid foundation.

13th over: England 83-0 (Duckett 28, Bethell 42) Gurnoor Brar into the attack, Duckett flays him past point for four.

Tim de Lisle will be with you later on but he’s already whirring into action.

“England have struggled to find an opening partner for Ben Duckett in the 29 ODIs since Brendon McCullum took over as the white-ball coach in September 2024. Jacob Bethell is Duckett’s fifth partner and although he hasn’t made many runs yet, he’s had an impact. Their first partnership, last Tuesday, was the longest opening stand under McCullum (12.2 overs). Their second was the equal-shortest (one ball), but that can happen to anyone. Today’s stand is already in the top three under McCullum for length. And they allowed Prasidh to bowl two maidens in a row. It’s anti-Bazball!”

12th over: England 79-0 (Duckett 24, Bethell 42) Shot! Jacob Bethell plays the shot of the day so far with a lovely high elbowed drive that traces all along the baize for four back past the bowler. Bottle that.

11th over: England 70-0 (Duckett 22, Bethell 35) Here comes Jacob! Bethell larrups Prince Yadav into the stands at square leg for SIX and follows up with a pull through midwicket for four.

10th over: England 58-0 (Duckett 22, Bethell 25) Bethell has been tied down by Prasidh from the Nursery End, he finally gets off strike with an inside edge down to fine leg. Duckett then loosens the shackles with a scoop over fine leg, he doesn’t middle it but it trickles away for four.

9th over: England 53-0 (Duckett 18, Bethell 21) “This is by far the most important sporting event taking place today, even with some golf going on” writes Andrew Goudie. “By the way, England have won their last five ODIs at Lord’s when batting first”

They’ve made a decent start here.

8th over: England 48-0 (Duckett 18, Bethell 21) It’s as if India are following the OBO… they immediately tighten up with a maiden from Prasidh that includes a back of a length ball that thuds into Duckett’s stomach. Pass the arnica!

7th over: England 48-0 (Duckett 18, Bethell 21) Prince Yadav replaces Arshdeep from the Pavillion End and he loses his radar almost straightaway with five wides slung down the leg side that the keeper has no chance to haul in. Shot! Yadav straightens up but drifts onto Bethell’s pads and is duly whipped away for four. It’s been a bit scruffy so far this morning from India.

6th over: England 37-0 (Duckett 17, Bethell 17) A lesser spotted maiden from Prasidh. Bethell tied down and beaten (ooo err) as he attempts an extravagant drive outside off stump.

5th over: England 37-0 (Duckett 17, Bethell 17) Bethell and Duckett swish and flick, six off the over. India getting twitchy for the breakthrough, fast outfield and it looks a decent track for Lord’s.

4th over: England 31-0 (Duckett 15, Bethell 14) A purr goes round HQ as Bethell plays a classy flash past point. The prowling Kohli can only nod in appreciation as it scorches the turf and whistles past him to the fence. Beaten! Prasidh finally gets one in the right area, angling into Bethell on a good length and then snakes away late, somehow missing the edge and the off bail. Keep it there son.

3rd over: England 27-0 (Duckett 15, Bethell 10) Duckett drives down the ground and Bethell whips off his pads. Two boundaries, decent start for England.

2nd over: England 16-0 (Duckett 10, Bethell 5) Boundaries off Prasidh! He strays onto Duckett’s pads and is pinged away to the square leg boundary twice in the over. The first of which was uppish and just a few yards wide of the fielder. Bethell then spawns an inside edge past the keeper for four more. Lewk in the bewk.

1st over: England 3-0 (Duckett 2, Bethell 1) Loud cheers as Arshdeep steams in from the Pavilion End. Zippy, nippy and movement away from England’s left handed opening pair. Duckett gets off the mark with an angled glide down past point and Bethell clips a single to mid on. Eeeesht! Arshdeep beats Duckett with a ripper that jags away late. Ducky responds with a hack into the off side and he’ll keep strike for the next.

The players line up on the outfield and there is a touching minute of silence for Sir Garry followed by a round of applause.

I had my own brief meeting with the great man a few years back. What a player.

It’s embarrassing to be hit for a lot of runs off a single over, obviously, but there’s something about the six sixes that welds batter and a bowler together, the failure and the glory forging them for ever.

Sobers’s eyes are misty, swirls of milk in a glass of water. He’s seated, a walking stick leans against his chair. He is immaculately dressed, suit, shirt, slacks. I scan his collar for any sign of the infamous upward tilt, of the cream-coloured boundary antennae he was famous for sporting, but today they are firmly starched in place.”

We’ve got ten minutes before play begins here at Lord’s. Enough time to have a read of these lovely tributes to the great Sir Garfield Sobers who passed away this week.

He was a cavalier in an era when there were so many roundheads on the international circuit. The great West Indies’ sides of his time not only won their fair share of games but they played with a joyous freedom rarely matched by their opponents and this was so often due to the presence of Sobers.

His century in the first innings of the famous tied Test in Brisbane in 1960 set the tone for that epic series. By the time he toured England for a second time in 1963, he was the linchpin of Frank Worrell’s side. When he returned in 1966 as captain, his own staggering performances ensured not just victory, but victory with style and grace.”

Teams:

India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel, Gurnoor Brar, Prince Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna

England: Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Josh Tongue

Arshdeep Singh and Prince Yadav also return for India.