Second ODI: England, 235-6, defeated India, 233, by four wickets.

Will Jacks played a vital role in a 72-run partnership for the sixth wicket as England overcame India in Cardiff to square the series ahead of Sunday’s decider at Lord’s.

Following a difficult week for England’s footballers in Atlanta, the cricket team offered a much-needed lift with a gritty four-wicket triumph. Although the chase was far from straightforward, it provided some relief for captain Harry Brook and his side.

England were set a target of 234 on a pitch that occasionally held up, making life tricky for the batters.

Virat Kohli had earlier compiled a fluent 65 from 66 balls, but England faltered to 94 for four by the 20th over. Joe Root’s masterful unbeaten 99, however, guided them home comfortably with 35 balls remaining, levelling the series at 1-1.

Brook’s leadership in the field was commendable as he rotated his bowlers effectively to dismiss India for 233 in 44 overs. Jofra Archer led the attack with figures of three for 47. Yet Brook’s own innings ended poorly, falling for 16 while attempting an extravagant ramp shot off Gurnoor Brar – a dismissal that mirrored England’s scrappy but effective performance.

Brook’s adventurous nature once again brought both excitement and frustration. After being struck on the helmet trying a similar shot earlier, he later sent one for six before falling in ungainly fashion, much to India’s amusement. Despite the lapse, Root’s composure at the crease ensured England’s pursuit remained on track.

Root’s 133-ball effort was a demonstration of patience and skill, managing the conditions superbly while collecting nine boundaries and valuing his wicket as partners came and went. He began his innings facing the second ball of the chase after Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Ben Duckett without scoring.

England’s top order continued to struggle as Jacob Bethell edged Prasidh Krishna to the keeper for four, Brook departed in calamitous fashion, and Sam Curran chipped in 29 before falling to another sharp piece of wicketkeeping. At 125 for five, England needed stability, which arrived courtesy of Root and Will Jacks.

Jacks contributed 30 from 44 balls in a crucial partnership of 72 runs for the sixth wicket, steadying the innings. Gus Atkinson, fresh from taking three for 50, then chipped in with an unbeaten 23 to see England home.

Root was left stranded one run short of a century when Atkinson pulled Krishna for four to seal victory. Root took it in good humour, punching his partner on the arm before shaking hands with India’s players.

The win was a timely boost for England, currently eighth in the ODI rankings and seeking momentum ahead of the 2027 World Cup. Root remains essential to their plans as the one batter in their top six who appears fully attuned to the demands of 50-over cricket.

Reports suggest that Rohit Sharma may be nearing the end of his ODI career, with Lord’s potentially marking his farewell.

His 26 in Cardiff, having been dropped on five, did little to alter perceptions. Still, India’s batting collapse was not entirely his fault.

After losing Shubman Gill for 31, India reached 104 for one in the 18th over, with Kohli in full control and a total above 300 looking possible. However, after Sharma swept Jacks to the keeper, England tightened their grip, exploiting uneven bounce to unsettle India’s middle order. Brook’s decision to field a more balanced attack than in the Edgbaston defeat – with four seamers – paid dividends.

Archer was the standout performer, changing the course of the innings by dismissing Kohli with a thick edge to deep third, reducing India to 178 for four. He then removed Axar Patel and Shivam Dube in successive deliveries to leave the visitors reeling.

Shreyas Iyer was the only other batter to look comfortable, striking five fours and two sixes – one of which accidentally struck a seagull – on his way to 66 from 71 balls. Once Atkinson bowled him and later dislodged Krishna’s leg stump to end the innings, India were left short of a competitive total.

India’s scoreline was bolstered slightly by Bumrah’s late cameo of 20, which included 18 runs in one over that spoiled Saqib Mahmood’s otherwise tidy figures of two for 52. Bumrah then found Duckett’s edge with the first ball of England’s reply, raising hopes of a tight finish among the Cardiff crowd.

However, despite occasional pressure from Bumrah, the only real suspense towards the end centred on whether Root would reach his century. Reflecting on the outcome, Root said: “Winning is what matters most. Sometimes you just have to fight hard and win ugly.”