England Levels ODI Series Against India with Root’s Unbeaten 99

By Sanjay Menon — 17 July 2026 — 3 min read

England secured a four-wicket victory over India in the Second ODI in Cardiff, levelling the one-day international series. Joe Root was instrumental in the chase, scoring an unbeaten 99 runs as England successfully pursued a target of 234 with 5.5 overs remaining.

The match saw Root anchor England‘s innings after a challenging start. Ben Duckett was dismissed on the first ball, followed by Jacob Bethell for four, and captain Harry Brook for 16. Root remained steadfast, forming crucial partnerships with Will Jacks and Gus Atkinson to guide his team to victory.

Root’s Masterclass in a Tricky Chase

Root‘s innings was described as a masterclass in adapting to difficult conditions. Despite wickets falling around him, he maintained composure. His fifty came off 76 balls, reflecting the challenging pitch and consistent Indian bowling. He played the ball late and demonstrated discipline throughout his innings.

During his partnership with Harry Brook, Root provided a contrasting style of play. While Brook was noted for swinging and missing, Root remained solid and watchful. He accelerated his scoring after settling in, contributing significantly to England‘s pursuit.

Root was denied a century when Gus Atkinson hit the winning boundary with three runs still needed. Atkinson‘s late runs included a four through midwicket and another through extra cover, ultimately securing the win for England. Root, however, celebrated the victory with his teammate.

Shubman Gill commented on Root‘s performance, calling him “the master of those kind of totals.” Harry Brook also praised Root, stating he is a “phenomenal player and a great bloke to have around,” who “always turns up when we need him.” Brook highlighted Root‘s ability to rotate the strike as a major part of 50-over cricket.

Harry Brook said he doesn’t care about getting a hundred because “we want to win the series, and in those conditions on that pitch,. Very much looking foward to a big game at Lord’s now. Throughout the whole game it was difficult to bat, and our bowlers did well. Some times you have to win ugly and scrappy.”

India’s Innings and England’s Bowling Response

Earlier in the day, India posted a total of 233 runs, being bowled out with six overs of their innings unused. Virat Kohli appeared to be in strong form, scoring 65 runs and guiding India to 178-3 in the 32nd over. However, his dismissal, a top edge off Jofra Archer, proved to be a turning point.

England‘s bowlers then rallied, taking the last seven wickets for just 55 runs. Saqib Mahmood removed Washington Sundar, and Archer added Axar Patel and Shivam Dube to his tally, finishing with figures of 3-47. Shreyas Iyer contributed 66 runs, but Gus Atkinson took two wickets in three balls, completing a strong all-round bowling performance with 3-50, while Mahmood finished with 2-52.

Archer‘s impact was particularly notable against Kohli. After an unthreatening start to India‘s innings, Archer bowled noticeably shorter, deceiving Kohli with extra bounce. This tactic also led to the dismissals of Washington Sundar and Axar Patel, who were caught fending away.

The series is now tied, with the decider scheduled to take place at Lord’s on Sunday. England had previously dominated the preceding T20 series, winning 4-0.

Source: bbc.com