ENG vs IND

A dramatic collapse, an injury to Washington Sundar and a Joe Root Masterclass were the highlights of this game. With this, we head to Sunday, July 19, with everything to play for. The series is 1-1 and the winner takes it all at Lord's in the 3rd ODI.

Of course, there are rumours that it might be more than just the end of this series there. The picture will get clearer in due course. For now, this is Darpan and Pradeep saying goodbye! See you on Sunday!

Harry Brook (England captain): "Very important win. We are still in the series. Looking forward to Sunday (for the 3rd and deciding ODI).

(On restricting India to 233) Phenomenal effort. I think they were 180/3 (178/3) and looking good. To bowl them out, 7/60 (7/56) in the end, was ridiculous. 

(On adding the extra seamer to the XI today) We select the XI on the conditions. On another day, we might need to bring in an extra spinner.

(On Joe Root) Phenomenal player. Can learn so much of him in the change room too. So happy to have him around. He has been one of the best in the world in terms of rotation of strike.  Can remember an innings from a few years ago where he hit 3 fours and still scored a 100. 

(On the 3rd ODI and England's chances to qualify for the World Cup) We just take everyday as it comes. If we have to qualify, we have to qualify. Looking forward to Sunday now."

Shubman Gill (India captain): [On India's below-par total] "It was quite disappointing, to be honest. At 104 for 1 after 25 overs, we felt 300 or even 310 was a realistic total. But we lost too many wickets in the middle overs and couldn't build on the platform we'd created."

[On the batting collapses]
"Our tail isn't made up of specialist batters, but we definitely expected more from the lower middle order. We weren't able to capitalise on the start, and that's something we'll look to improve. Next time, we need to build small partnerships and carry the innings deeper."

[On his dismissal]
"It's never a good feeling when you hit one straight to cover. I was disappointed with the way I got out."

[On Washington Sundar's injury]
"Washington is a key player for us. He picked up an injury while batting, and losing someone like that means you have to change your plans and rethink your bowling options. It probably affected our momentum, although I don't think it alone changed the outcome because the fast bowlers were still going for runs."

[On Joe Root's innings]
"With only around 240 to defend, we knew the required run rate wasn't high enough to force him into taking risks. If it had been closer to six an over, we might have created more chances. But at four-and-a-half or five an over, Joe is a master of these chases. We just couldn't force a false shot from him."

Joe Root is the Player of the Match! Here's what he has to say: [On being left stranded on 99] "I've been out on 99 a few times before, but that's not why you play the game. You play to win matches, and that's exactly what we've done today. The series is alive now, which was our objective coming into this game, and we're really looking forward to the decider at Lord's."

[On England's chase]
"It was a tricky surface throughout the game. I thought our bowlers did a brilliant job after India had that partnership, pulling things back and keeping them to a chaseable score. That gave us the chance to bat time, absorb pressure when we needed to, and I thought we managed that well. Sometimes you've got to win scrappy and ugly, and this was one of those days. The important thing is that we've taken the series to Lord's with everything still to play for."

[On England's progress as an ODI side]
"It depends on how you judge this team. You can look at results over the last few years, or you can look at where we are now. We won in Sri Lanka as the first team to do so in four years, and just like that series, we lost the opening game, learned quickly and adapted. We've done the same again here. The challenge now is to back it up at Lord's against the No. 1-ranked team in the world. If we can do that, I think people will have a very different perception of where this team is."

8:47 PM (1:17 AM IST): Riding on Joe Root's, resolute, responsible and rock-solid innings of 99*, England chase the target down with 35 balls to spare and win by 4 wickets to level the series 1-1

Joe Root 99* (133) | Jofra Archer 3/47 (10)
Shreyas Iyer 66 (71) | Gurnoor Brar 2/67 (10)

India's first innings score of 233 always seemed under-par. However, a couple of fiery spells of new-ball bowling, sparked life into the contest. As he so often does, Jasprit Bumrah made things happened. He picked the wicket of Ben Duckett with the first ball of the innings and then, asked several more questions off the other batters within the first powerplay.

He was backed up well too, by Prasidh Krishna, who delivered 3 probing overs up top to make the hosts feel the heat. Soon, Gurnoor Brar joined the party and dismissed the dangerous Harry Brook to leave England reeling at 53/3.

However, one man stayed put in India's way — determined and unshakeable — and he made the difference. Joe Root's grind was old-fashioned. He was patient and sturdy. There was hardly a moment in that innings where he took any untoward risk. His unhurried resolved reached its epitome during the partnership with Will Jacks, where both batters were happy to milk singles for nearly 9 overs and did not even search for a boundary. Eventually, it was Gus Atkinson who hit the winning runs, with Joe Root, on 99*, watching from the other end.

India had themselves to blame. Yes, they were a bowler short following Washington Sundar's injury. But in the first innings, they had collapsed from 177/3 in 33 overs to 233 all out in 44. Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer scored half-centuries, while Shubman Gill impressed with a good-looking 31. However, none were able to convert their starts into something big.

The short ball troubled India. Kishan, Sundar, Axar and Kohli fell prey to it. Jofra Archer picked 3/47, while Gus Atkinson returned 3/50. If it was not for Bumrah's sprightly cameo of 20* (13), the visitors might have managed even less. 

44.1 Prasidh Krishna to Gus Atkinson, FOUR! ENGLAND LEVEL THE SERIES, 1-1! But, Root is stranded on 99*! England hold their nerve! Gus Atkinson seals a four-wicket win to level the series 1-1, but Joe Root is left stranded on a heartbreaking 99.

Banged in short into the batter, Atkinson hammered it past square-leg and it races away to the ropes, seals the game.

44.1 Prasidh Krishna to Gus Atkinson, short and follows the batter, Atkinson backing away, looks to pull and misses. Appeal from Kishan, umpire is unmoved. Has been signaled wide.

Brar's 10 overs are done. He caps off with 2/67. England on the doorstep of victory. They need 4 more runs. Root is on 99*, but at the non-striker's end. 

43.5 Gurnoor Singh Brar to Gus Atkinson, FOUR! Short on the off-stump, Atkinson hangs back and smashes it past mid-wicket and it races away to the ropes.

43.3 Gurnoor Singh Brar to Joe Root, OH! That keeps low. Back of a length on the off-stump, Root goes low and swipes it past backward square-leg for one more.

43.2 Gurnoor Singh Brar to Gus Atkinson, short into the hips, Atkinson whacked it away, but straight to the fielder at fine-leg on the bounce for just one.

43.1 Gurnoor Singh Brar to Gus Atkinson, banged in short, angling down the leg-side. Atkinson swivels to pull and misses, through to the keeper.