Root’s ton helps England level ODI series

Joe Root’s gritty century laid the foundations for England’s series-levelling victory over India in the second one-day international at Lord’s.

Root made 113, and David Willey’s unbeaten 50 from 31 balls gave England the late impetus to reach 322-7.

Though India slipped to 60-3 in reply, the reassuring presence of captain Virat Kohli kept them in the game.

After he was lbw to Moeen Ali for 45, the tourists limped to 236, to lose by 86 runs.

The three-match series is left poised at 1-1 and will be decided at Headingley on Tuesday. A 2-1 defeat in the Twenty20 series and a huge loss in the first ODI on Thursday posed questions for England.

Are they really the favourites to win the World Cup on home soil next year? This win may not provide the answers, but England did outplay the formidable Indians and found a way to deal with left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav.

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