Joe Root was carrying England’s chase at Sophia Gardens, reaching 87 as the hosts moved to 191-5 in the 38th over against India. With 43 still needed from 12 balls, the innings was still alive, but only just.
That is why Root is the name people are searching now. India had set England 234 in the second men’s one-day cricket international, and Root had become the one batter keeping the reply together while wickets kept falling around him. Jacks was there with 25, but the scorecard still showed five down, which meant the pressure sat on Root even as he kept adding runs.
His innings had been gathering steadily for several overs. England were 125-5 in the 26th over with Root on 53, then 144-5 with him on 65, 172-5 with him on 79 and, by the 37th over, 182-5 with Root on 86. He also had to reset after asking for a new bat earlier in the chase, and Brydon Carse ran out with a selection of five yellow-handled blades before play moved on. Earlier, Root had also worked a four down to third in Gurnoor’s sixth over and then turned a last-ball shot to the rope at long leg for four, the sort of scoring that kept England moving without letting the asking rate get away from them.
The friction in the chase is simple enough. England were making progress, but they were doing it with only five wickets left, which meant one mistake could still turn a manageable target into a lost one. Jos Buttler had already gone when the stumps rattled in Axar’s over, leaving Root to absorb the responsibility that followed. England still had the runs within reach at 191-5, but the margin for error was gone.
What happens next is clear even if the finish is not yet. Root has put England within sight of the target; whether he can carry them the rest of the way will decide whether this innings becomes a rescue act or just a promising chase that ran out of partners.
