Cardiff: Joe Root’s 99 not out helps England level one-day international series against India

By Karan Malhotra — 17 July 2026 — 3 min read

England’s Chase Masterclass

In a gripping encounter in Cardiff, England successfully chased down India’s total of 233, levelling the one-day international series. The victory was largely orchestrated by Joe Root, who remained unbeaten on 99, guiding his team to a four-wicket win. This performance came after a chaotic start to England’s innings, with Ben Duckett dismissed on the first ball by Jasprit Bumrah.

Root’s innings was a masterclass in adapting to challenging conditions, providing stability as wickets fell around him. He found crucial support from partnerships with Will Jacks and Gus Atkinson, ultimately leading England to their target with 5.5 overs to spare. Despite being stranded on 99, Root’s unselfish play was evident as Atkinson hit the winning boundary, securing the victory.

The chase saw early dismissals, including Jacob Bethell falling to Prasidh Krishna and captain Harry Brook departing for 16. Root, however, remained unfazed, navigating the Indian bowling attack with discipline. His 76-ball fifty was noted as his third-slowest in ODI cricket, highlighting the challenging pitch and the consistency of India’s bowlers.

India’s Innings and England’s Bowling Response

Earlier in the match, India had appeared set for a formidable total, with Virat Kohli looking in strong form, scoring 65. India reached 178-3 in the 32nd over, but England’s bowlers mounted a significant comeback. Jofra Archer proved to be a pivotal figure, dismissing Kohli with a top edge to deep third, which sparked a collapse in India’s batting order.

Following Kohli’s dismissal, England’s seamers took control, claiming the last seven wickets for just 55 runs. Saqib Mahmood removed Washington Sundar in the subsequent over, and Archer added Axar Patel and Shivam Dube to his tally, finishing with figures of 3-47. Shreyas Iyer attempted a late rally with 66, but Atkinson’s two wickets in three balls sealed India’s innings at 233, leaving six overs unused.

The English bowling attack, particularly Archer, employed a strategy of bowling noticeably shorter, which unsettled the Indian batsmen. This tactic proved effective against Kohli, who was deceived by extra bounce, and later against Washington and Axar, who were caught behind. Atkinson also contributed significantly with the ball, finishing with 3-50, while Mahmood took 2-52.

BBC Sport microphone and phone Credit: bbc.com

Key Performances and Series Decider

Root’s performance was praised by teammates and opponents alike. Shubman Gill described Root as “the master of those kind of totals,” while captain Harry Brook highlighted Root’s ability to rotate the strike, a crucial aspect of 50-over cricket. Root himself expressed that winning the series was more important than achieving a century, acknowledging the difficult conditions.

The match at Cardiff showcased two contrasting approaches to batting on a challenging pitch, with Root’s disciplined innings standing out. His ability to anchor the innings and accelerate when settled was a key factor in England’s success. The victory ensures that the series is now level at one-one, setting up a decisive final match.

The series decider is scheduled to take place at Lord’s on Sunday. This follows England’s dominant 4-0 victory in the preceding T20 series, adding further anticipation to the upcoming one-day international finale.