England got off to a blistering start in their first innings, reaching 109 for 1 at lunch on Day 2 of the fifth and final Test against India at The Oval, after dismissing the visitors for 224 earlier in the morning.

India managed an early breakthrough through pacer Akash Deep, who removed the dangerous Ben Duckett for 43, caught behind by the wicketkeeper. However, by then, the damage had already been done, with England racing to 92 runs in just the first 13 overs of their innings, significantly eating into India’s modest total.

Duckett’s innings, a brisk 43 off just 38 balls, featured five boundaries and a couple of sixes. He took the attack to the Indian bowlers early on, setting the tone for England’s aggressive reply. His dismissal came against the run of play, offering India a glimmer of hope, but the visitors struggled to maintain control thereafter.