First time ever at Lord’s! India, England script unique ODI record with century opening stands | Cricket News

India’s Rohit Sharma and skipper Shubman Gill. (ANI Photo)

India and England created a unique piece of ODI history at Lord’s during the series-deciding third and final one-dayer, with both teams registering 100-plus opening partnerships in the same match for the first time at the iconic venue on Sunday.The record was sealed after Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill added 147 runs for the first wicket in India’s chase of England’s imposing 388-run target.Their stand came after England openers Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell had earlier stitched together a commanding 192-run partnership, laying the platform for the hosts’ massive total of 387/3.According to available records, this is the first instance of both teams posting century opening stands in the same ODI at Lord’s, underlining the batting-friendly nature of the surface and the dominance of the top-order batters.England’s innings was built around Duckett’s magnificent 141 off 135 balls and Bethell’s fluent 91 from 93 deliveries. The pair frustrated India’s bowlers for more than 30 overs, taking the score to 192 before the first wicket fell.Joe Root then provided the perfect finishing touch with an unbeaten 74 off just 48 balls, while Jos Buttler smashed a 13-ball 41 not out to propel England to one of their highest ODI totals at the historic ground.India responded positively despite the daunting target. Rohit and Gill matched England’s aggressive approach, scoring freely against both pace and spin.Rohit mixed elegance with power in his innings, while Gill played a captain’s knock, regularly finding the boundary as the pair kept India’s hopes alive.The partnership ended in the 25th over when leg-spinner Adil Rashid trapped Gill lbw for 77. Gill reviewed the decision, but ball-tracking confirmed three reds, ending the 147-run stand. Virat Kohli then joined Rohit at the crease with India still requiring a substantial 224 runs from the remaining overs.While the match remained finely poised, the day had already entered the record books, with Lord’s witnessing a statistical first in ODI cricket as both teams produced century opening partnerships in the same contest.