Joe Root surpasses Virat Kohli's ODI record with unbeaten 99 against India

Former England captain, Joe Root produced yet another batting masterclass as he guided England to a four-wicket win over India in the second ODI at Cardiff. He remained unbeaten at 99, and in the process helped England level the three-match series 1-1. Also, his brilliant innings saw him overtake the master of chase, Virat Kohli’s record of batting average while chasing.

Root walked in after Duckett was dismissed on the very first ball of the second innings. He absorbed the pressure early on as both the Indian pacers, Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna bowled tight lengths and troubled the English batters. After the initial grind, Root settled into his innings nicely and took control of the chase and made a well composed 99 not out from 133 deliveries.

During his innings, Root stitched important partnerships first with Sam Curran and then with Will Jacks and Gus Atkinson to steer the hosts to victory. The incredible knock also saw Root overtake Virat Kohli in the list of highest batting averages in a successful ODI run chase (minimum 2000 runs).

Highest batting average in successful ODI chases (minimum 2000 runs)

After steering his side over the line, during the post-match presentation, Root said, the result mattered far more than the missed century. “Being there at the end and getting the job done is probably the best feeling you can get in cricket. You don’t play for milestones but you play to win games for your country. The series is alive now, and that’s exactly what we wanted heading into today.”

“It was difficult to ball all game. Our bowlers did a brilliant job to pull things back after that partnership and gave us a score we felt we could chase. We knew we had to bat time, absorb pressure in phases and stay calm. Sometimes you have got to win scrappy and ugly, and today was one of those days,” he further added.

Root led the chase with ease

Batting first, India squandered their chances after being in a commanding position after Harry Brook put them into bat first at Sophia Garden. Despite a solid partnership of 114 runs between Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer that took India to 180 for 3. But a middle-order collapse saw them lose their last seven wickets for just 53 runs and eventually got all out for 233.

England’s chase started in a disastrous manner after Bumrah dismissed Ben Duckett off the first ball of the second innings before Prasidh Krishna reduced the hosts to 8 for 2. However, Root anchored the chase with a wonderful innings of 99 runs and he received valuable support from Will Jacks, Sam Curran and Gus Atkinson.

With this win England has levelled the series 1-1 and the decider will be played at the Lord’s on July 19.