Joe Root stars as England beat India in second ODI to level series 1-1

CARDIFF: Joe Root's superb unbeaten knock, backed by disciplined bowling from Gus Atkinson and Jofra Archer, guided England to a four-wicket victory over India in the second ODI of the three-match series, levelling the contest at 1-1 at Sophia Gardens on Thursday.

Chasing 234, England reached the target in 44.1 overs despite losing six wickets. Root anchored the innings with a match-winning unbeaten 99 off 133 deliveries, striking nine fours and finishing just one run short of a century.

Will Jacks contributed 30 off 44 balls, including two fours, while Sam Curran and Gus Atkinson added valuable knocks of 26 and 23, respectively. Wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler scored 17, while captain Harry Brook made a run-a-ball 16.

England suffered an early setback when Ben Duckett was dismissed for a first-ball duck, while fellow opener Jacob Bethell managed just four.

For India, Gurnoor Brar was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2/67 from his 10 overs. Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Shivam Dube and Axar Patel claimed one wicket each.

Earlier, India were bowled out for 233 in 44 overs despite half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, along with useful contributions from Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma and Bumrah.

Iyer top-scored with 66 off 71 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes, while Kohli struck 65 from 66 deliveries, including eight fours.

Gill made 31 off 30 balls, including six fours, while Sharma scored 26 from 47 deliveries, featuring one four and one six. Bumrah chipped in with a quickfire 20 off 13 balls, smashing three fours and a six.

However, the lower order failed to provide significant support as Ishan Kishan and Axar Patel were dismissed for one each, Washington Sundar made two, Shivam Dube and Prasidh Krishna fell for ducks, while Gurnoor Brar scored seven.

For England, Archer and Atkinson claimed three wickets each, while Saqib Mahmood took two. Sam Curran and Will Jacks picked up one wicket apiece.

The third and final ODI between England and India will be played at Lord's in London on Sunday, with the series level at 1-1.