Root’s 99 not out helps England win to level seriesFigure caption, Root masterclass guide’s England to victoryByFfion WynneBBC Sport Journalist in CardiffPublished16 July 2026, 20:53 BSTUpdated 31 minutes agoSecond ODI, CardiffIndia 233 (44 overs): Iyer 66 (71); Archer 3-47England 235-6 (44.1 overs): Root 99* (133); Brar 2-67England won by four wicketsScorecard
England needed a Joe Root rescue act once again as his 99 not out led a gritty chase of 234 against India in Cardiff to level the one-day international series against India.
With wickets falling around him regularly, Root provided a masterclass in adapting to tricky conditions and led England to their target with 5.5 overs to spare, but was denied a century as Gus Atkinson hit the winning boundary with three runs needed to win.
Root was immediately tasked with rebuilding a chaotic start to the chase after Ben Duckett was dismissed from the first ball of the innings.
Duckett nicked behind off Jasprit Bumrah, Jacob Bethell fell in the same way to Prasidh Krishna for four and after a third-wicket stand of 45, the frenetic captain Harry Brook was out in calamitous fashion trying to ramp over the keeper for 16.
Root was chanceless and held firm after the departures of Sam Curran and Jos Buttler, before he found valuable support in partnerships with Will Jacks and Gus Atkinson to get England over the line in a gripping contest between bat and ball throughout.
Earlier, Virat Kohli had looked in ominous form for his 65 but England’s bowlers fought back brilliantly to take the last seven wickets for just 55 runs as India were bowled out for 233 and crucially left six overs of their innings unused.
The visitors looked on course for an imposing total as Kohli steered them to 178-3 in the 32nd over, but his top edge to deep third off Jofra Archer proved decisive.
The dismissal sparked life into England’s seamers as Saqib Mahmood removed Washington Sundar in the following over, and Archer added Axar Patel and Shivam Dube to his tally to finish with 3-47.
Shreyas Iyer threatened a late rally with his 66 but Atkinson took two wickets in three balls to complete a fine all-round bowling performance – Atkinson finished with 3-50 and Mahmood 2-52.
The series decider takes place at Lord’s on Sunday after England dominated the preceding T20 series 4-0.
