Root's 99* Levels England-India ODI Series
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- Joe Root scored an unbeaten 99 to steer England to a four-wicket victory over India in the second ODI at Cardiff on Thursday 16 July 2026.
- England chased down the target with 35 balls to spare, leveling the three-match series after losing the first ODI at Edgbaston by a comprehensive margin two days earlier.
- Root's knock was described as a 'professional' innings that gave England control of a chase that had been described as 'nervy'.
- The third and final ODI at Lord's on Sunday (11am first ball) is now a series decider, with the series level at 1-1.
- England had arrived in Cardiff on the back of what the source describes as a 'comprehensive defeat' in the first ODI at Edgbaston, making the Cardiff turnaround a response result.
Why it matters: England recover from a heavy Edgbaston loss in just two days, with Root's 99* — one run shy of a century — anchoring a chase finished with 35 balls to spare. The win turns the series into a Lord's decider on Sunday, giving England momentum heading into the finale.
