England ended the Royal London one-day series on a winning note, beating India by 41 runs thanks largely to Joe Root’s sparkling century.
On a slow-paced Headingley wicket England’s first-innings total of 294 always looked like being too imposing for an Indian team who had rediscovered their zest in taking the first three games of the series. That proved to be the case as their reply never found momentum, save for a defiant 87 from Ravindra Jadeja as the match entered its death throes.
India’s struggles began in the first over when Ajinkya Rahane surrendered a tame cut straight into the hands of Eoin Morgan at point. Virat Kohli followed soon after, prodding in familiar style at a probing Anderson delivery that pitched in his bogey area outside off stump. England could even afford two glaring slips in the field, as first Ambati Rayudu and then Suresh Raina were dropped in the same over off the bowling of the luckless Steven Finn.
It was the impressive Finn who ended proceedings, dousing Jadeja’s blazing innings by forcing him to play on. By then, the game was long gone - though one was left with the impression that India were by far the happier with the series spoils, despite the loss.
England’s bowling effort found its direction in James Anderson, who ran in with zeal on the way to his first two wickets of the series.
Advertisement
Alastair Cook enthused: “He [Anderson] is an outstanding bowler.”
Questioned as to how England can improve from this, their fifth home one-day series defeat in a row, Cook appeared less certain.
He said: “This is the first time we’ve got a massive chunk of one-day cricket where we can concentrate on improving as players.”
England’s batsmen found some belated form in the morning, their total of 294 for seven built around a brilliant hundred from Root on his home ground. Root, who made his maiden Test century at Headingley last year, reached his second one-day hundred from 105 balls, providing the backbone to an innings that had threatened to crumple at 117 for four in the 29th over.
This was the point at which Root joined forces with Jos Buttler in a fifth-wicket stand of 108 from 81 balls that revived England’s innings. The late thrust was provided by Ben Stokes, who struck 33 from 23 balls, raising hopes that England might finish the series with a consolation victory and restrict India to a 3-1 series victory.
Advertisement
Root, who made two hundreds and three fifties during England’s Test series victory over India, looked in princely form as soon as he came to the crease, despite a modest series to date. In partnership with Buttler, he helped England to score 55 from the five powerplay overs and, once Buttler had been run out for an excellent 49 from 40 balls, Root went on to reach his century with a six slog-swept over long-on off Jadeja.
Cook, under pressure as captain due to the team’s poor results and his lack of form with the bat, had made his best score of the series, 46 from 64 balls, before he top-edged a sweep off Suresh Raina. But Cook will have been encouraged by the performance of his batsmen at the end of a disappointing series, raising the possibility of a decent contest for a full house on a sunny day at Headingley.