On Thursday at Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens, a stunning clinical knock from Joe Root dragged England across the finish line to secure a four-wicket victory against India, forcing a winner-takes-all decider in their three-match one-day international series this Sunday at London’s iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground.
India won the second match of the series earlier, leaving the two sides level heading into the second ODI, and looked set to claim an advantage after collapsing England’s top order early in the hosts’ run chase. India posted a total of 233 all out after batting first, with 6 overs left unused, powered by solid half-centuries from star batters Virat Kohli (65) and Shreyas Iyer (66). India looked well placed at 178 for 3 before their middle and lower order failed to push the total to a more imposing score, a mistake that would later prove costly.
The side from the subcontinent was already at a disadvantage before England began their chase: allrounder Washington Sundar suffered a leg injury while batting, forcing him to sit out the entire England innings and leave India one bowler short. With a required run rate of fewer than five runs per over, the chase should have been a straightforward assignment for England. But the hosts’ inconsistent ODI form showed early, as they collapsed to 8 for 2 inside the opening overs. Ben Duckett was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah on the very first delivery of the England innings, and Jacob Bethell quickly followed, caught off Prasidh Krishna’s bowling. Captain Harry Brook gave the crowd a moment of excitement with a ramped six off Krishna, but he overcommitted to the scoop shot against young fast bowler Gurnoor Brar and was caught for 16, leaving England 17 for 3. Wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan held four catches to dismiss England’s first four batters, putting India firmly in control.
That was when Joe Root stepped in to rescue England once again, joining the innings after just one delivery and anchoring the chase with trademark patience. He finished the innings unbeaten on 99, his 67th ODI half-century and second consecutive half-century in the series, reaching the milestone off 76 deliveries – his slowest ODI fifty since the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup. Jos Buttler’s brief cameo ended when he was bowled by Axar Patel attempting another aggressive shot for 17, leaving England at 125 for 5 and reigniting India’s hopes of victory. Will Jacks provided stable support to Root, putting on an unbroken 72-run partnership until Jacks was dismissed by Brar at 197 for 6, leaving Root stranded one run short of his 21st ODI century.
Tailender Gus Atkinson calmed a visibly frustrated Root, hitting a crucial six over the fine leg boundary off Bumrah’s final over that just missed a seated steward in the stands. Bumrah responded with a bouncer that struck Atkinson on the helmet, but the fast bowler only finished with the one early wicket of Duckett. Atkinson contributed 23 runs off 38 balls in the final stand, and hit the winning runs when he pulled Prasidh Krishna to the boundary, leaving Root not out one run short of a century. England finished on 233 for 6, reaching the target with 5.5 overs to spare.
All eyes will now turn to Lord’s on Sunday, where the two sides will clash to decide the winner of the ODI series.