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England wins due to Root's brilliant innings, series level 1-1

England made a brilliant comeback in the second ODI against India and won by four wickets. Thanks to Joe Root's composed innings of unbeaten 99 runs at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, the host team leveled the three-match series 1-1.

Chasing 234, England recovered from early setbacks and achieved the target with about six overs remaining. Root led the team to victory by playing a match-winning inning of 99* runs, for which he was also chosen as 'Player of the Match'.

England recovered after initial shocks

India got off to a great start with the ball and Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Ben Duckett on the very first ball of the innings. Soon after, Prasidh Krishna strengthened India's grip by sending Jacob Bethel to the pavilion, taking England's score to 8/2 in 3.4 overs.

After this, Joe Root played an important role in stabilizing the innings and made a partnership of 45 runs with captain Harry Brook (16). Brook was dismissed by debutant Gurnoor Brar, while Shivam Dubey and Axar Patel also took important wickets to leave England in trouble at 125/5 in 25.4 overs. This gave India hope of defending its score.

However, Root stood firm at one end and made a match-winning partnership of 72 runs with Will Jacques. Jacques contributed 30 runs. Root completed his fifth consecutive ODI half-century and took England closer to victory. Jacques was dismissed by Brar in the 40th over, after which Gus Atkinson (23*) provided valuable support in the end. Atkinson's four helped England win by four wickets, and Root remained unbeaten on 99 from 133 balls, narrowly missing his century. The series is now tied at 1-1 and the deciding match will be played at Lord's on July 19. In bowling, Brar took two wickets, but proved costly, conceding 67 runs in 10 overs. Bumrah, Krishna, Dubey and Akshar took one wicket each.

Kohli-Iyer's half-centuries were insufficient, India restricted to 233

Earlier in the match, England's bowlers put in a disciplined performance and restricted India to 233 runs in 44 overs. Despite half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, India struggled to build momentum on a pitch that favored fast bowlers.

India had a bad start and middle order

After electing to bowl first, England kept the pressure on India by taking wickets at regular intervals. Rohit Sharma scored 26 runs, while captain Shubman Gill contributed 31 runs, after which the hosts made a comeback. Ishan Kishan, who joined the playing eleven in place of ill KL Rahul, could not do anything special and was out after scoring only one run.

After this, Kohli and Iyer took over the innings by making an important partnership. Kohli played a brilliant inning of 65 runs, but as soon as he was out, the match turned in favor of England. India's middle order failed to respond, with Shivam Dubey, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar failing to even reach double figures. Iyer played a struggling inning of 66 runs in 71 balls and kept the ball at bay. In the end, Jasprit Bumrah scored an unbeaten 20 to help India reach a competitive score.

Dominance of English fast bowlers

England's pace attack maintained constant pressure throughout the innings. Jofra Archer was the most successful bowler with three wickets, which included the important wicket of Kohli. Gus Atkinson also took three wickets, while the returning Saqib Mahmood impressed with two wickets as England restricted India to 233 runs.