ENG vs WI 2024: England amass fastest team Test fifty in 26 balls against West Indies

Ben-Duckett. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The second Test of the three-match series between England and the West Indies got underway on Thursday, July 18, at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. After opting to bowl first, the tourists drew first blood in the opening over itself as Alzarri Joseph dismissed Zak Crawley with his third delivery. However, the Caribbean side couldn’t build on the initial breakthrough as Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope put on a scintillating show.

Duckett and Pope hit boundaries at will and helped the Three Lions get to the 50-run mark off just 26 balls. They broke the record for the fastest team Test fifty, surpassing the previous recorded instant of a 27-ball fifty by them against South Africa at the Oval in 1994. Duckett, who was the more flamboyant of the duo, took England to 50 with a boundary off Alzarri.

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The diminutive left-handed batter went on to slam his half-century in just 32 balls with a boundary off Jason Holder in the 10th over. Duckett registered the fastest fifty by an England opener and the third joint fastest for his country in the longest format of the game.

England race to 134/2 at Lunch

Duckett’s mayhem was eventually ended by Shamar Joseph, who dismissed the 29-year-old for a 59-ball 71. This was after the Farnborough-born had hit 14 boundaries during his blistering knock. He stitched a 105-run partnership off just 112 balls with Pope.

After Duckett departed, Pope and Joe Root added 30 runs off 48 balls to take England to 134/2 at Lunch on Day 1. Pope gave a tough chance to Alick Athanaze at backward point in the last over of the session but the latter couldn’t hold on. Eventually the right-handed batter finished unbeaten on 47 off 75 balls, belting five fours and a six.

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The West Indies would have to regroup during the break and come out with better plans in the second session as the hosts are threatening to run away with the game.