England cricket team India: Root's 99* levels series
The England cricket team India second ODI at Cardiff ended with a four-wicket England win. Joe Root finished unbeaten on 99 to guide a chase of 234 at Sophia Gardens, leveling the Metro Bank ODI series at 1-1 before Sunday's decider at Lord's.
Key Takeaways
- England beat India by four wickets with 35 balls to spare, leveling the series 1-1.
- Joe Root's selfless 99 not out off 133 balls anchored a tricky chase after an 8-2 start.
- India were bowled out for 233 in 44 overs despite half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer.
- Jofra Archer (3-47) and Gus Atkinson (3-50) led England's attack; Atkinson then hit the winning runs.
- The series decider is at Lord's on Sunday.
How did the England cricket team beat India in Cardiff?
India set England 234 after collapsing from strong positions. Kohli made 65 off 66 and Iyer 66 off 71, but from 104-1 and later 178-3, India slumped to 233 all out in 44 overs.
Archer took 3-47, with Atkinson (3-50) and Saqib Mahmood (2-52) sharing five more wickets. England's chase began poorly: both openers fell cheaply for 8-2, and captain Harry Brook was out for a run-a-ball 16.
Root held the innings together with stands of 41 with Sam Curran, 31 with Jos Buttler, and a crucial 72 for the sixth wicket with Will Jacks. When Jacks fell, Atkinson joined Root and finished on 23 not out off 16 as England won with 35 balls remaining, according to the BBC Sport live report.
Why did Joe Root sacrifice his century?
Root reached 99 and told Atkinson to close the game rather than protect a personal landmark. With three needed, Atkinson pulled Prasidh Krishna for four to seal victory while Root remained stranded.
"I told him to just get it done," Root said afterward. "It's all about winning and there's no better feeling in cricket than being there at the end you chase something down." He later noted it would have felt worse to lose, and that winning "ugly" shapes England well for big games ahead of the 2027 World Cup, as reported by Cricinfo.
Root became the first Englishman to finish 99 not out in ODIs. Brook backed the choice, saying he would have done the same and wanted the game finished. India captain Shubman Gill joked he would not have taken the single that left Root off strike late on.
What does a 1-1 series mean for Lord's?
India won the first ODI by six wickets; England's Cardiff response sets up a high-stakes finale. Brook called the day "extremely satisfying" and praised the calm Root-Jacks partnership that took the chase deep.
Gill said India were well placed through 20-30 overs but lost too many wickets in the middle overs and finished a bowler short with Washington Sundar unavailable. Vic Marks on Test Match Special asked whether anyone will dismiss Root at Lord's.
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