3rd ODI: England, 387-3, defeated India, 360-7, by 27 runs

Rohit Sharma struck a blistering century but India ultimately fell short.

Six weeks after a Test at the same venue that saw wickets tumble in quick succession, Lord’s witnessed a flood of one-day international runs. Despite a magnificent hundred from Rohit Sharma that briefly made the famous ground his own, England did enough to secure a 2-1 series triumph over India.

At the halfway stage, Harry Brook might have felt the job was done for his side, following Ben Duckett’s commanding 141 from 135 balls which powered England to 387 for three.

Both totals were men’s ODI records at Lord’s, with Duckett surpassing Viv Richards’ unbeaten 138 made during the 1979 World Cup.

However, amid questions surrounding his international future, Sharma responded with controlled aggression. His 138 from 110 deliveries, combined with a stylish 77 from Shubman Gill, kept India on course and inspired hopes among their supporters of a famous chase.

That hope faded when Jacob Bethell, fresh from scoring 91, delivered a decisive moment. His left-arm spin slipped past Sharma’s sweep to hit the stumps, leaving India 260 for two in the 39th over.

It proved the turning point, as the visitors closed on 360 for seven, 27 runs short.

Brook later acknowledged head coach Brendon McCullum’s influence in introducing Bethell, having briefly left the field to seek his counsel. The pair’s strong partnership has brought T20 and ODI series wins against India this summer, while also elevating Brook’s prospects as a potential future Test captain.

“It’d be tough to do [all three roles] but I’m not saying it’s impossible,” Brook remarked. “I’m really pleased with how we’ve played in this series after going 1-0 down – the fight, camaraderie and belief we’ve shown are credit to the team and coaches.”

One key difference on the day was Jos Buttler’s explosive unbeaten 41 from just 13 balls at the close of England’s innings. Brook also benefited from a greater variety of bowling options. Among them was Sam Curran, who took four for 75 with his mix of cutters and slower deliveries, ending Virat Kohli’s first Lord’s half-century on 74.

Brook had also won a crucial toss, though Gill said he would have chosen to bowl first, with Jasprit Bumrah absent through a knee injury sustained in Cardiff. Without Bumrah, only Prasidh Krishna found rhythm early on, though even he suffered in the closing overs thanks to Buttler’s brutal finish.

The day began with a minute’s silence for the late Sir Garfield Sobers, and for a time it appeared a fitting century might follow. Bethell, who moved from Barbados to Rugby School with Sobers’ personal recommendation, fell nine short of his second ODI hundred.

Still, his 192-run opening partnership with Duckett set a new record for an England pair against India at any wicket, establishing the foundation for the mammoth total. Bethell’s 93-ball 91, featuring 11 fours and two sixes, went a long way to silencing doubts about his recent promotion to opener.

Duckett was in full flow, initially taking a back seat with a fifty from 64 balls compared to Bethell’s 52, before accelerating alongside Joe Root in a 101-run second-wicket stand. His only real scare came when KL Rahul stepped over the boundary while attempting a catch from his sole six, before Duckett eventually holed out to Prince Yadav.

Rather than sending Buttler in ahead of Root, England stuck with their No 3, whose unbeaten 74 from 48 balls was crucial. Following scores of 76 not out at Edgbaston and 99 not out in Cardiff, Root has now amassed 360 runs in this series without being dismissed.

Fireworks still followed as Buttler arrived intent on attack, smashing four boundaries and three sixes as England plundered 82 runs from the final five overs. By then, India’s bowlers were spent, with Gooram Brar’s none for 97 becoming the most expensive ODI figures ever recorded at Lord’s.

Unlike England’s narrow Test win over New Zealand last month, wickets here were hard to come by, and even containing the opposition proved difficult. Gill was in majestic touch early on, his cover drives perfectly timed as he and Sharma shared 147 for the opening stand.

Adil Rashid finally trapped Gill lbw in the 25th over, but only after Sharma’s dismissal – followed by Curran’s rapid removals of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer – did Brook’s side begin to relax. Though the closing overs lacked drama, the path to victory had been spectacular and unpredictable in equal measure.