Root’s Unbeaten 99 Guides England Past India, Levels ODI Series

Joe Root anchored England to a four-wicket victory over India in the second ODI at Cardiff on Thursday, helping the hosts level the three-match series 1-1 ahead of the decider at Lord’s on Sunday.

The 35-year-old remained unbeaten on 99 from 133 deliveries as England chased down India’s target of 233 with 35 balls remaining.

Root struck nine boundaries during his innings, registering his fifth consecutive ODI score of 50 or more. Although he finished one run short of a century, he said securing the win was what mattered most.

“That’s not what you play for,” Root said when asked about missing out on a hundred. “Just to be there at the end and get the job done is probably the best feeling you can get in cricket.”

“You play to win games and this series is very much alive now. Sometimes you’ve got to win scrappy and ugly, and now we go to Lord’s with everything to play for.”

India were dismissed for 232 with six overs unused after suffering a dramatic collapse. Having reached 104-1, the visitors lost their final seven wickets for just 55 runs.

Shreyas Iyer led the scoring with 66, while Virat Kohli made 65 to register his 132nd ODI score of 50 or more. However, the remainder of India’s middle and lower order failed to build on the solid platform.

England’s bowling was led by Jofra Archer, who claimed 3-47 and was on a hat-trick after dismissing Axar Patel and Shivam Dube with successive deliveries. Gus Atkinson also impressed with 3-50, his best figures in one-day internationals.

Jasprit Bumrah provided late resistance with an unbeaten 20—his highest ODI score—and then struck with the opening ball of England’s chase by dismissing Ben Duckett.

Jacob Bethell fell soon afterwards, while Harry Brook and Jos Buttler were both dismissed playing attacking shots. Root, however, held the innings together, sharing a 72-run sixth-wicket partnership with Will Jacks before finishing the chase alongside Atkinson, who remained unbeaten on 23 from 16 balls.

India captain Shubman Gill admitted his side had fallen well short of the total they had expected.

“It was quite disappointing, to be honest,” Gill said. “After 25 overs we thought 300 to 310 would be a good score because we were in a strong position, but we lost too many wickets in the middle overs.”

“We know our tailenders are not the best batters, but we expected more from our lower middle order. We weren’t able to make the most of the start we had.”