England secured a four-wicket victory over India in the second One-Day International (ODI) in Cardiff, with Joe Root scoring 99 not out. This performance helped England chase down India’s total of 233, levelling the series ahead of the decider at Lord’s.
Root’s innings was crucial after a challenging start for England’s chase. He was tasked with rebuilding after Ben Duckett was dismissed on the first ball of the innings, caught behind off Jasprit Bumrah. Jacob Bethell also fell early to Prasidh Krishna for four runs.
The early wickets continued with Harry Brook departing for 16, attempting to ramp the ball over the keeper. Root, however, remained steady, navigating the difficult conditions and the consistent Indian bowling attack. He provided stability after the departures of Sam Curran and Jos Buttler.
Root’s Masterclass Amidst Early Struggles
Root found valuable support through partnerships with Will Jacks and Gus Atkinson, guiding England towards their target. Despite Atkinson hitting the winning boundary with three runs still needed, denying Root a century, his unselfish celebration highlighted the team’s focus on victory.
His 76-ball fifty was noted as his third-slowest in ODI cricket, reflecting the challenging pitch and the quality of India’s bowling. Root’s approach involved playing the ball late and demonstrating discipline, a stark contrast to some of his teammates’ more aggressive attempts.
Harry Brook praised Root’s contribution, stating that he consistently performs when needed and is exceptional at rotating the strike in 50-over cricket. Shubman Gill from India also acknowledged Root’s skill in handling such totals.
Earlier in the match, India had looked set for a larger total, with Virat Kohli scoring 65 runs. They were at 178-3 in the 32nd over before Kohli top-edged a shot to deep third off Jofra Archer, sparking a collapse.
England’s bowlers then took control, claiming the last seven wickets for just 55 runs. Saqib Mahmood removed Washington Sundar in the following over, and Archer added Axar Patel and Shivam Dube to his tally, finishing with figures of 3-47.
Shreyas Iyer contributed 66 runs, but Atkinson took two wickets in three balls, completing a strong all-round bowling performance with 3-50. Mahmood also finished with 2-52. India was eventually bowled out for 233, leaving six overs unused.
Bowling Efforts and Series Decider
England’s decision to bowl first initially led to an unthreatening start, with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill adding 44 runs for the first wicket. Sharma’s knock of 26 from 47 balls ended when he top-edged a sweep off Jacks, the only wicket to fall to spin.
Gill also looked in good form before Duckett made an excellent catch off a crisply-timed drive. Ishan Kishan managed only one run, and India’s innings was at 111-3, setting the stage for Kohli to build a platform.
However, Archer thwarted India’s plans, with Brook turning to his strike bowler to make an impact. Archer bowled noticeably shorter, and Kohli was deceived by the extra bounce, leading to his dismissal. This tactic also worked for Washington and Axar, who were caught behind.
The series decider is scheduled to take place at Lord’s on Sunday. England had previously dominated the preceding T20 series, winning 4-0.
Root’s performance in Cardiff follows his 76 at Edgbaston, which was in vain. His consistency has been highlighted by his recent ODI form, with his last three innings including scores of 111 not out, 76 not out, and 99 not out.
During the chase, Root maintained his composure even when Jacks was caught at cover for 30, with 37 runs still required. He called for a new bat during the 33rd over, with Brydon Carse bringing out a selection of five yellow-handled blades.
The match was a gripping contest between bat and ball throughout, with both innings seeing key players master the conditions. England’s bowlers, particularly Archer, played a significant role in restricting India’s total.
The win means England has an opportunity for a series victory at Lord’s. Root expressed his anticipation for the upcoming game, noting the difficult batting conditions in Cardiff and praising his bowlers’ performance.
He also mentioned that the team needs to learn lessons from the first game, similar to a previous series in Sri Lanka where they lost the opener but recovered to win the series.
Bumrah showed some promise with a cameo of 20 not out, including a six and three fours, while keeping Shreyas company. However, Shreyas eventually prodded behind to Atkinson, bringing an end to India’s innings.
The second ODI saw England secure a four-wicket win against India, with Root’s unbeaten 99 leading the chase on July 16.
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Source: bbc.com
