Joe Root's 99* steers England to 4-wicket win, levels ODI series vs India 1-1
Synopsis
Joe Root's unbeaten 99 — one run short of a century — was the difference at Cardiff, as England overhauled India's 233 with a four-wicket win to force a series decider at Lord's. India's collapse from 178/3 to 233 all out, surrendering seven wickets for 55 runs, is the story within the story — and a warning sign heading into Sunday's finale.
Key Takeaways
England defeated India by four wickets in the second ODI at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff on 17 July , levelling the series 1-1 .
Joe Root finished unbeaten on 99 off 133 balls (9 fours), anchoring the chase alongside Gus Atkinson (23*).
England recovered from 125/5 at the halfway stage; a 72-run sixth-wicket stand between Root and Will Jacks (30) proved decisive.
India collapsed from 178/3 to 233 all out , losing their last 7 wickets for 55 runs ; Virat Kohli (65) and Shreyas Iyer (66) top-scored.
Jofra Archer (3-47), Gus Atkinson (3-50), and Saqib Mahmood (2-52) shared 8 wickets between them.
The series decider takes place at Lord's on Sunday, 19 July .
Joe Root crafted a masterful, unbeaten 99 off 133 balls at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff on 17 July to guide England to a four-wicket victory over India in the second ODI, levelling the three-match series 1-1. The 35-year-old former captain anchored England's chase of 234 with nine boundaries, finishing one agonising run short of a century as Gus Atkinson's winning boundary ended the contest with 35 balls to spare.
England's Rocky Chase
England's pursuit was anything but serene from the outset. The hosts were in early trouble at 8/2 inside the fourth over, losing Ben Duckett for a duck and Jacob Bethell for just 4. The innings continued to wobble, slumping to 125/5 at the halfway mark before Root steadied the ship.
A 72-run sixth-wicket stand between Root and Will Jacks (30 off 44 balls, 2 fours) hauled England to 197 and effectively wrestled momentum away from India. Root then added an unbroken 38 with Atkinson (23*) for the seventh wicket, taking England to 235/6 in 44.1 overs. Notably, Jasprit Bumrah (1-45) and Axar Patel (1-35) provided India with timely breakthroughs, but Root's composure proved decisive.
India's Collapse After Promising Start
India, asked to bat first, appeared well-positioned at 178/3 before a dramatic batting collapse saw them lose their last seven wickets for just 55 runs, bowled out for 233 in 44 overs. Virat Kohli (65 off 66 balls, 8 fours) and Shreyas Iyer (66 off 71 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes) had built a platform with fighting half-centuries, but the lower order offered little resistance as England's pace attack exploited the conditions ruthlessly.
Jofra Archer (3-47), Gus Atkinson (3-50), and Saqib Mahmood (2-52) combined for eight wickets, repeatedly striking at pivotal moments to deny India what had looked like a total in excess of 280. This is the second consecutive ODI in the series where India's lower order failed to convert a solid platform into a commanding total — a pattern that will concern the management ahead of the decider.
Root's Innings in Context
Root's unbeaten 99 was a study in ODI craft: patient accumulation, precise rotation of strike, and clinical punishment of anything short or full. His ability to bat through the innings while wickets fell around him underlined why he remains one of England's most dependable match-winners in the format, even at 35. The cruel irony of being left stranded on 99 — when Atkinson hit the winning runs — will linger, but England's dressing room will care little about that.
Series Decider at Lord's
The result denied India the chance to seal the series in Cardiff and sets up a winner-takes-all third ODI at Lord's on Sunday, 19 July. Both sides will now regroup, with India needing to address their lower-order fragility and England looking to replicate the pace-bowling cohesion that dismantled India's middle overs. The series finale at the 'Home of Cricket' promises high stakes for both camps.
Brief Scores: India 233 all out in 44 overs (Shreyas Iyer 66, Virat Kohli 65; Jofra Archer 3-47, Gus Atkinson 3-50) lost to England 235/6 in 44.1 overs (Joe Root 99*; Gus Atkinson 23*; Gurnoor Brar 2-67, Jasprit Bumrah 1-45, Axar Patel 1-35) by four wickets.
Point of View
Yet India's lower order imploded for the second time in two games. That fragility is a structural problem, not a one-off: without a reliable No. 6 and beyond, India's batting depth remains a liability in overseas ODIs. England, meanwhile, found their match-winner in the format not in a power-hitter but in a 35-year-old technician — a reminder that patience and craft still win ODI games when the conditions demand it.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of the second ODI between England and India at Cardiff?
England defeated India by four wickets in the second ODI at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff on 17 July, chasing down a target of 234 in 44.1 overs. The result levels the three-match series 1-1, setting up a decider at Lord's on 19 July.
How did Joe Root perform in the second ODI against India?
Joe Root scored an unbeaten 99 off 133 balls, hitting nine fours, to anchor England's chase. He was left stranded one run short of a century when Gus Atkinson struck the winning boundary, with England finishing on 235/6.
Why did India fail to post a bigger total despite being 178/3?
India collapsed dramatically after reaching 178/3, losing their last seven wickets for just 55 runs to be bowled out for 233 in 44 overs. Jofra Archer (3-47), Gus Atkinson (3-50), and Saqib Mahmood (2-52) shared eight wickets, repeatedly breaking partnerships at key moments.
Who were the top scorers for India in the second ODI?
Virat Kohli (65 off 66 balls, 8 fours) and Shreyas Iyer (66 off 71 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes) were India's leading scorers. Neither the middle order nor the lower order could capitalise on their platform.
When and where is the third and deciding ODI between England and India?
The series decider takes place at Lord's, London, on Sunday, 19 July. Both teams go into the match level at 1-1 after England's four-wicket win in Cardiff.
