England beat weirdly sluggish India at Lord's as Joe Root returns to ODI form with a century

It was a false dawn when England levelled their three-match T20 series against India at 1-1. On Tuesday at Headingley, following their series-levelling victory by 86 runs, it will be seen whether England can get the better of India in the three-match series of 50-over internationals. It will be some fillip for the hosts before the World Cup next summer if England do.

For England the satisfactions of coping with Kuldeep Yadav, and of Joe Root returning to run-making, were almost equal to that of victory. And all three were intimately linked. It was Root who, in the course of his 12th ODI century for England (equalling the record of Marcus Trescothick), neutralised the threat of India’s left-arm wrist-spinner and who was the bulwark of a total of 322 that proved to be comfortably above par as the pitch dried and deteriorated.

Nobody could play the long innings for India that Root did for England. He had struggled all season - his highest score 50 - and, by his high standards, he had struggled for most of the winter too. Absurd that a man of his talent and exemplary technique should have gone through a winter-long tour with only one competitive century, in an ODI in Dunedin, and that in a losing cause as it was outweighed by New Zealand’s Ross Taylor.

So often in Australia and New Zealand, whether in the Test or ODI format, Root had played too many shots too soon - and the saving of him here probably was that he could not do so. Kuldeep had just winkled out Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow - albeit they were slightly freakish dismissals - and England were at precisely the same stage at which their batting had slumped at Trent Bridge. All that Root could do initially was to work the ball around for singles and play himself in for a long haul.

So although Kuldeep struck three times in all, he was himself struck for 68 runs. At Trent Bridge he had bowled 39 dot-balls, on this occasion it was only 19. Expert in his placement, Root tucked Kuldeep’s stock ball through the vacant square-leg and seized on singles like a squirrel on autumn nuts. It was a throwback to Root’s youth when he was a racehorse between wickets, until he was partnered with slowcoaches in the England team.

When his feet and the scoreboard were moving, Root cashed in on the width he was offered, not least by Kuldeep who was reverse-scooped and cut. He reached his 50 off only 56 balls without having to play any shot so big as Roy’s slog-sweep at Kuldeep, or even Bairstow’s conventional sweep, which he tried to hit too hard.

Root and his white-ball captain Eoin Morgan, who favoured the sweep more in his bold 50, turned the tide of Kuldeep that had been overwhelming their team. They added 103 for England’s third wicket off 98 balls - good going in uncharted territory, which is what left-arm wrist-spin is for English batsmen. Once Morgan had been dismissed off a Kuldeep full toss, another stutter followed, but Root found the late-order hitter he needed in David Willey who slugged his first ODI 50.

It was in these last five overs of their innings that England took the initiative, never to relax it. Once Kuldeep and Yuzvendra Chahal, India’s legspinner, had finished their allotments, England had five overs left at their disposal. It was as if they had been released from jail: it was only pace that they would face, and from those last five overs Willey whacked 58 with the aid of Root.

If Morgan’s wisdom in choosing to bat first had not been apparent at the start, it was as India’s innings wore on. The ball gripped in the loosening surface, and spun ever more lavishly for Adil Rashid. Had India batted first and posted 300, England’s batsmen would have had a much harder task when dealing with the 20 overs of India’s wrist-spinners, and could hardly have been expected to score a run a ball off them as they had in the day’s first half.

One ball that gripped was the offcutter by Mark Wood, which he bowled as his first ball after Root had come to him in mid-over for a whispered conversation. Wood has so seldom bowled slower balls that Rohit Sharma may well have been taken by surprise: in any event it was an unbecoming mow with which he missed. More carelessness followed when Shikhar Dhawan threw his bat at the last ball of the first Powerplay, making India 57 for two off ten overs, compared to England’s 69 without loss.

Jos Buttler had a good game in spite of scoring only four runs - having been sent in rather inexplicably below Ben Stokes - and, when standing up, dropping a thick edge and therefore a hard chance offered by Suresh Raina. Buttler made two uncommon catches when the ball went down the Lord’s slope, the first with his left hand alone to catch LK Rahul’s inside edge, the second with both when Hardik Pandya leg-glanced.

Moeen Ali made a spirited comeback after his T20 towelling by Australia and India: to him the most prized wicket of Virat Kohli, even if India’s captain played for too much turn. Thereafter India’s innings seized up, as England's spinners did a fine impression of India's, and not even MS Dhoni could revive their flagging run-rate, spirits and supporters.

7:10PM

Kohli

"We all have bad days and cricket. MS has the experience but sometimes it does not come off. We totally believe in him. When he does it people say that he is the best finisher ever and then they pounce on him."

6:56PM

England (322/7) beat India (236 ao) by 86 runs

And they have levelled the series at 1-1. Sets up a decider at Headingley on Tuesday. Curious ending to it all, Dhoni stuck in first gear, but let nothing detract from a complete performance from England. Here comes Scyld Berry's match report to tell you all about it. From me, Goodnight.

6:56PM

India 236 all out (Kuldeep Yadav 8*)

That's the lot

6:54PM

Final over...

A wide, a slice to third man, and with one ball remaining, India need 87. It is tense...

WICKET! Chahal c Stokes b Willey 12 Strokes it down the ground but picks out the man and India are bowled out off the last ball. FOW 236/10

6:51PM

OVER 49: IND 227/9 (Kuldeep Yadav 8* Chahal 4*) chasing 323     

Do India think there's like a bonus point or something? Net run rate? GET ON WITH IT. Plunkett bowls, if you can believe it, a maiden. Yadav the latter-day Gavaskar.

6:48PM

OVER 48: IND 227/9 (Kuldeep Yadav 8* Chahal 4*) chasing 323    

Chahal wallops Willey and celebrates the boundary like he's just scored a ton against Malcolm Marshall and Joel Garner! Heh. He's laughing. I like this lad, good bowler, and a bit of character.

6:43PM

OVER 47: IND 222/9 (Kuldeep Yadav 6* Chahal 0*) chasing 323   

Two wickets in the over for Plunkett. Legside ball is given as five wides but I thought that might have flicked the pads. No matter.

6:40PM

WICKET! Kaul lbw Plunkett 1

Hit bang in front, Sid Kaul is going to be out second ball here. He reviews, because for some reason India want to make this game as long and annoying as possible. I am being a little unfair. He might as well review, fair play.

The VAR soon tells the story: it is hitting all three. FOW 217/9

6:37PM

Sid Kaul is 

the new man

6:36PM

WICKET! Dhoni c Stokes b Plunkett 37

You see?! That's what happens when you try and hit it. MSD has a drink, he changes his gloves and he says to himself: "Right then." First ball of Liam Plunkett's over, he charges down the wicket and heaves the ball straight to Stokes at cow corner. One of the more curious ODI knocks comes to an end, Dhoni trudges off with his 59-ball 37, the FOW 215/8

6:35PM

OVER 46: IND 215/7 (Dhoni 37* Kuldeep Yadav 6*) chasing 323  

Two off Willey. Get on with it! 

6:29PM

OVER 45: IND 213/7 (Dhoni 36* Kuldeep Yadav 6*) chasing 323 

The annoying drift continues. Dhoni plays out two dots and then a single. Yadav gets a single. Poor entertainment for this Saturday Lord's crowd.

6:26PM

OVER 44: IND 210/7 (Dhoni 34* Kuldeep Yadav 5*) chasing 323

Kuldeep managed to take a single off the last ball of the Plunkett over, giving him first look at the returning David Willey. Three dot balls and a single. Nasser: "if this was club cricket, they would be shouting 'hit out or get out' from the balcony." I am shouting it at the TV. This is irritating now. I've got pubs to get to, MS. He's basically just having a net on everybody else's dime.

6:22PM

OVER 43: IND 208/7 (Dhoni 33* Kuldeep Yadav 4*) chasing 323          

Forcing Plunkett off the back foot, Dhoni moves on to 9,999 ODI runs. A thick edge to third man makes it 10,000. Averaging 51.55 in the process. He has been as good as it gets in this format.

Plunkett keeps it short to Kuldeep, who doesn't really have the shots to score off this. India have a proper tail: Umesh, who came in at 8 averages 8.77. Kuldeep, in his young career, 11.50 in ODIs. Sid Kaul has a first class batting average of 11.36; Chahal of 9.31. So take your pick, really, from 8-11.

6:16PM

OVER 42: IND 202/7 (Dhoni 28* Kuldeep Yadav 3*) chasing 323         

Dhoni panels Rashid down the ground, a flat straight pull. Brilliance from Stokes to keep that to two. A few pottered singles but again no real sense of a plan from this pair.

Adil Rashid is done, a super 2 for 38.

121 runs required from 48 balls: that's more than 15 an over.

6:13PM

OVER 41: IND 197/7 (Dhoni 24* Kuldeep Yadav 2*) chasing 323        

Just weird from MSD now. He taps it to mid on first ball of the over and turns down a single. Second ball of the over, he taps it to midwicket and... takes a single. That just makes no sense. Yadav: dot and a single. Then another single for Dhoni. Meh.

6:07PM

OVER 40: IND 194/7 (Dhoni 22* Kuldeep Yadav 1*) chasing 323       

Rashid with a low full toss. Dhoni taps it politely to midwicket. He's not himself today: why didn't he just muller that halfway to Swiss Cottage?

6:06PM

WICKET! Umesh Yadav st Buttler b Rashid 0

Umesh's first ball, he gives it the big swing and a miss against a leg-break. Beaten. Next ball, Rashy goes for the leg-break again, tosses this one up slower, and Umesh Yadav bites. Huge mow, misses, Jos stumps him and this is only a matter of time now. FOW 194/7

6:04PM

OVER 39: IND 191/6 (Dhoni 20*) chasing 323      

That came off the last ball of the over. It's Umesh Yadav coming in at number 8, he was down on the card at 11, so one can only assume that he has been instructed to go out there and give it some pongo.

6:02PM

WICKET! Pandya c Buttler b Plunkett 21

Plunkett comes back, and he has picked up Pandya with a legside strangle, a bit of a nothing dismissal for a bit of a nothing innings. Damn good catch from Jos again. FOW 191/6

5:59PM

OVER 38: IND 187/5 (Dhoni 17* Pandya 20*) chasing 323     

When are India going to go?! They are just letting England stroll to victory here. Dhoni has faced 32 balls for that 17.

5:53PM

OVER 37: IND 182/5 (Dhoni 14* Pandya 18*) chasing 323    

Pandya comes across the stumps and slaps Moeen away. Bairstow, at deep square leg, cannot prevent it crossing the rope. YJB is one of the best boundary fielders I have ever seen, I wonder if that whack he got on the hand earlier in the innings is a factor.

Not a lot else in the over though. That's Moeen's work done: 1 for 42 off his ten. And that one, of course, was the King Pin Kohli.

5:51PM

OVER 36: IND 175/5 (Dhoni 13* Pandya 12*) chasing 323   

But Rashid slams the lid down again. One off this over. It's a real pleasure to watch England's two spinners bowling in tandem.

5:48PM

OVER 35: IND 174/5 (Dhoni 13* Pandya 11*) chasing 323  

Pandya attempts a reverse sweep, but gets it all wrong. It hits him on the back leg and England like this for an LBW. Bruce Oxenford says no, but England review. Good spot from Bruce, there was a little bit of glove, and Hardik Pandya survives.

A more productive over for India, though. MSD heaves Ali away for four, Pandya cuts for three.

5:40PM

OVER 34: IND 164/5 (Dhoni 7* Pandya 7*) chasing 323 

A two-run over from Adil Rashid. Even MS Dhoni is up against it from here.

India need 159 runs from 16 overs so that's all but ten an over.

5:39PM

OVER 33: IND 162/5 (Dhoni 6* Pandya 6*) chasing 323

Moeen keeping it correct. Just five off this over as well.

5:34PM

OVER 32: IND 157/5 (Dhoni 5* Pandya 2*) chasing 323                              

Rashid and Ali have bowled 12 overs for 42, taking two important wickets and going for just one boundary. Some partnership from two super talented and thoroughly likeable cricketers.

5:31PM

WICKET! Raina b Rashid 46

Raina had been dropped twice, the pressure was building, he has not been able to get free from England's spinners and he has chosen an unwise option, heavin across the line. The ball spins, and it's stumps all over the place time. Well bowled Adil. FOW 154/5

And here is how he did it.

5:28PM

OVER 31: IND 154/4 (Raina 46* Dhoni 4*) chasing 323                             

Moeen continues, that's a six-run over. He has bowled seven straight, and has one for 20. Classy.

5:27PM

OVER 30: IND 148/4 (Raina 44* Dhoni 2*) chasing 323                            

England still have India well pinned down. Two off Rashid.

5:21PM

OVER 29: IND 146/4 (Raina 43* Dhoni 1*) chasing 323                           

Single for Raina. No score from Dhoni. Just one off the over from Moeen.

5:19PM

OVER 28: IND 145/4 (Raina 42* Dhoni 1*) chasing 323                          

The crowd roar as the legend MS Dhoni comes out, batting in a cap.

5:17PM

OVER 27: IND 140/4 (Raina 38*) chasing 323                         

Earlier in the over, Raina had been dropped by Jason Roy at extra cover.

5:16PM

WICKET! Kohli lbw Moeen Ali 45

He's done it! He's got the main man! Go'orn Moeen, well bowled son. It's a straight ball, wicket-to-wicket, and Virat has shovelled across it. "It's like he has been done by pace, the ball skidding at him," says Stuart Broad. FOW 140/4

Could hardly be more plumb? 

5:13PM

OVER 26: IND 137/3 (Raina 36* Kohli 44*) chasing 323                        

England keep the pressure on with a five run over from Rashy.

5:08PM

OVER 25: IND 132/3 (Raina 33* Kohli 42*) chasing 323                       

Six off Mo. Half-way stage. 

191 required from 25 overs: RRR: 7.64

5:07PM

OVER 24: IND 126/3 (Raina 29* Kohli 40*) chasing 323                      

Adil Rashid comes on. First ball, drilled through the offside for four: assertive, intimidating.

Couple of balls later, Rashid nearly has a wicket. Finds the edge of Raina's bat, but Buttler cannot grab the thick edge. Hard to blame Jos too much, it took a big deflection. But a drop nevertheless, and it could be a significant one.

5:01PM

OVER 23: IND 119/3 (Raina 28* Kohli 34*) chasing 323                     

England are getting through these overs. Just two off the over, and both of them come from Suresh Raina chipping the ball, inside out, over mid off for two.

Just been four an over in the eight over since drinks.

5:00PM

OVER 22: IND 117/3 (Raina 26* Kohli 34*) chasing 323                    

Stokes and Ali are doing a good job in tandem. Five off this from Ben. 

4:55PM

OVER 21: IND 112/3 (Raina 23* Kohli 32*) chasing 323                   

Three off Moeen, who is getting some turn. That run rate just starting to tick up, but India will be sanguine about that I think. This partnership is worth 52.

4:53PM

OVER 20: IND 109/3 (Raina 21* Kohli 31*) chasing 323                  

Quality over from Stokes, hanging the ball outside off, getting it to hold its line on occasion. Kohli plays and misses twice.

4:48PM

OVER 19: IND 105/3 (Raina 19* Kohli 29*) chasing 323                 

Moeen comes on. Spins the first one, more than Kohli was expecting. Hits him on the pads. Outside the line I suppose. Just one run off the over, excellent start for Mo,

4:44PM

OVER 18: IND 104/3 (Raina 19* Kohli 28*) chasing 323                

Raina has not yet faced a bumper, but he gets one now, last ball of the Ben Stokes over. Looks a bit unsure but plays it okay in the end.

4:41PM

OVER 17: IND 99/3 (Raina 18* Kohli 24*) chasing 323               

Plunkett worked around expertly by this clever pair. Nine runs off the over.

4:35PM

OVER 16: IND 90/3 (Raina 14* Kohli 20*) chasing 323              

Stokes hits Raina on the pad with the first ball after the resumption, but England elect not to review, one assumes on height. Last ball of the over, he finds the edge of Kohli's bat, but he had played with soft hands and it dies short of Buttler.

4:29PM

OVER 15: IND 87/3 (Raina 12* Kohli 19*) chasing 323             

Solid fare from Plunky. Five off the over. That's drinks. Where's your money?

236 runs required from 35 overs at a run rate 6.74

4:24PM

OVER 14: IND 82/3 (Raina 10* Kohli 17*) chasing 323            

Ben Stokes comes on for a spell, and the sight of his angry ginger puss seems to have stirred something in this Indian pair! Raina clips him over midwicket with something like disdain, Kohli creams him through the covers.

4:22PM

OVER 13: IND 70/3 (Raina 5* Kohli 10*) chasing 323           

Five off the Plunkover.

4:21PM

OVER 12: IND 65/3 (Raina 3* Kohli 7*) chasing 323          

With Romelu Lukaku being subbed off, Harry Kane has almost surely won the football World Cup golden boot with shades of "how many of those runs were against Bangladesh?" 

Back to the matter at hand: four off the Willey over, including another wide.

4:15PM

OVER 11: IND 61/3 (Raina 1* Kohli 6*) chasing 323         

England are bang on top here. But you never write off a Kohli/Raina/Dhoni middle order, with Pandya in there as well of course.

4:10PM

WICKET! KL Rahul 0 c Buttler b Plunkett 0

Brilliant from Jos Buttler. KLR flashes at the ball. Jos is going towards the offside but the ball takes the inside edge. Jos somehow manages to shift his momentum, and pouches it low down to his left. Wonderful cricket. FOW 60/3

4:07PM

Right then. Can England press home this opportunity?

KL Rahul is the new man. Liam Plunkett is the new bowler. 

4:05PM

OVER 10: IND 57/2 (Kohli 3*) chasing 323        

That wicket came off the last ball of the over, also the last ball of the powerplay, and England are in this game.

4:04PM

WICKET! Dhawan c Stokes b Willey 36

Another one! Dhawan leans back and and unloads on this wider one from Will, but he's succeeded only in spanking it straight to the man at backward point. FOW 57/2

4:00PM

OVER 9: IND 52/1 (Dhawan 32* Kohli 2*) chasing 323       

Sunny Gavaskar on the BBC: "Strange kind of shot after making a hundred in the previous game, maybe sometimes over-confidence can seep in. It was a really ugly hoick because he is such an elegant player."

3:57PM

WICKET! Rohit b Wood 15

Dear me! Rohit is such a classy player, but this is as ugly a shot as you will ever see. Nice bowling from Wood: tiny bit of a cutter, leeetle bit slower at 81 mph. Rohit is through the shot too early, head in the air, heaving across the line. Bowled. FOW 49/1

This Cricket Prof thing is brilliant, I reckon. So much interesting info. And so quick with it.

3:55PM

OVER 8: IND 49/0 (Rohit 15* Dhawan 31*) chasing 323      

Solid, vaguely unspectacular, over from Willey. Four off it.

3:54PM

OVER 7: IND 45/0 (Rohit 13* Dhawan 29*) chasing 323     

England are getting a pumping here if they don't change it up. Wood posing little or no danger, each batsman pulls him for a four. Dhawan tucks the ball of his legs and Morgan trips and falls on his keyster. Oh dear.

3:48PM

OVER 6: IND 34/0 (Rohit 9* Dhawan 22*) chasing 323    

Willey. Dhawan up on his toes, forcing shot through cover, four. Classy. 

England not looking too threatening up front.

3:47PM

OVER 5: IND 28/0 (Rohit 8* Dhawan 17*) chasing 323   

Talking of non-verbal communication: Jonny Bairstow has been struck on the hand while fielding at short extra. He looks in real pain. Number of England players who come up to check he is okay: zero. (As far as I can see on the TV, and noted also on commentary.)

He goes off for treatment.

3:36PM

OVER 4: IND 18/0 (Rohit 8* Dhawan 7*) chasing 323  

Willey with three dot balls. Tries an effort delivery, but sends that wide. Same again later in the over when he strives for the extra few mph. Eight balls in the over, as it were, but those two extras the only score. Broad thinks Willey's body language needs a bit of work.

3:35PM

OVER 3: IND 16/0 (Rohit 8* Dhawan 7*) chasing 323  

Four off the Mark Wood over.

3:29PM

OVER 2: IND 12/0 (Rohit 6* Dhawan 4*) chasing 323 

Willey, gloved unconvincingly down the legside by Rohit. Willey, driven handsomely through the covers for four by Dhawan.

3:21PM

OVER 1: IND 2/0 (Rohit 1* Dhawan 0*) chasing 323

The pitch looks like it is dying, to me. Wood is getting this through at high 80s pace and it's hardly carrying. Suggestion of swing for Wood. Would have been a maiden if he hadn't bowled a legside wide off ball six. Rohit gloves the bonus ball away for one.

3:18PM

Here come the players

England "need early wickets, they don't have a mystery spinner in the middle, that's why they have got two slips," says Broad. Mark Wood to start.

3:13PM

Good day for Roots!

2:53PM

India require 323 to win the match

And the series...

2:52PM

England make 322/7

That's a pretty handy effort all told. The momentum swung this way and that. Good start from Roy and Bairstow, then England were pegged back and seemed to be well short at 40 overs when regular wickets had slowed the rate. 

But Joe Root kept his head with a classy, mature century, and England would have been hoping that one of their whackers in the middle or lower middle order turned up. Today it was David Willey, who made 50* at a terrific rate.  He and Root hit 83 off 52 balls.

India's batting line up fears no man and no total but England have certainly put up a score.

2:49PM

OVER 50: ENG 322/7 (Willey 45*)        

England manage eight off the last over, no boundary but handy enough.

WICKET! Root run out 113 Selfless from Joe, last ball of the innings, Willey cannot connect and they take one to the keeper. MSD makes no mistake. FOW 

2:43PM

OVER 49: ENG 314/6 (Root 110* Willey 45*)       

India are not the same side at the death without Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Umesh Yadav doing what he can with a mixed bag of wide ones, yorkers, waist high full tosses and what have you. Five runs off the first five balls and this is useful, but he blots his copybook with a front foot no ball off ball five. Root drives it to cover, Kohli fields and throws (correctly) at the non-striker's stumps, but the fielders on the legside are daydreaming and there is an overthrow. Kohli gives Chahal a volley. Talking of comic incompetence...

2:35PM

OVER 48: ENG 305/6 (Root 106* Willey 42*)      

Pandya. Slower ball, but Willey's picked it. Another four! Single brings Root on strike. At the second time of asking, he gets the single he needs for a hundred. His first ODI ton at Lord's, and a classy, controlled knock it has been too.

Another big over for England, vital that they have another two more good ones to give themselves a chance of staying in the series. 66 in 38 balls this stand.

2:32PM

OVER 47: ENG 292/6 (Root 99* Willey 36*)     

Umesh Yadav replaces his namesake. Waist-high full toss, Willey enjoyed that. Wallop. Now another full toss! India are letting themselves down here badly. England are now back on track for a winning total. 11 off this over. Root not getting a hit at the moment, he's still on 99*, Willey meanwhile has whacked 36 from 21 balls.

2:30PM

1,000 up : but who is in the best XI?

England's forthcoming Test against India at Edgbaston will be the 1,000th the England Men's team have played. Who would be in your all-time England XI? You can vote here.

2:26PM

OVER 46: ENG 281/6 (Root 98* Willey 26*)    

Sid Kaul's first six overs went for 34, but this over has put a dent in his figures! Willey has walloped him for 17. hits through the line, four at long off. Short on leg stump, Willey picks that up and plops it over the midwicket fence. Slams another one to midwicket for four. Cloths another one high up in the air for two, and then jabs that bat on a good yorker. Willey has pinched the strike.

A welcome over for England.

2:23PM

OVER 45: ENG 256/6 (Root 98* Willey 9*)   

Willey bottom edges the ball between his legs, gets three runs. There are some singles, making eight off the over. Kuldeep has been a leeetle pricey today: his three over spell here has cost 28, and his overall figures are 3/68. Still three vital wickets of course.

Can England go for a big finish? They need something to get the party started.

2:19PM

OVER 44: ENG 256/6 (Root 95* Willey 4*)  

Just four off Sid Kaul, Root moving sleekly towards his century.

2:13PM

OVER 43: ENG 252/6 (Root 93* Willey 2*) 

Root has got the better of Kuldeep in this over. An exquisite late cut, a crisp drive. Four for each of them. Four singles to go with.

2:11PM

Sky are fat shaming Mike Gatting

2:09PM

OVER 42: ENG 240/6 (Root 83* Willey 0*)

That's the end of a decent bit of work from YuzvendraChahal, he's gone for just 43 with the one wicket from his ten.

2:08PM

WICKET! Ali c Sharma b Chahal 13

Slower, loopier, juicier (as the Olympic motto goes) from Chahal. Outside off. Moeen blunders in. Heaves, up in the air, and it's a classy, running, diving catch from Rohit Sharma. FOW 239/6

2:05PM

OVER 41: ENG 236/5 (Root 80* Moeen 12*)         

Kuldeep Yadav comes back for another spell.

Oof, Kuldeep's had Moeen's pants down there. Aims a slog at the ball, it spins the other way, and it shaves his off stump as Moeen swishes thin air. Picks the wrong un soon after though. Four.

2:01PM

It all sounds delicious, one of each pls

1:58PM

OVER 40: ENG 228/5 (Root 78* Moeen 6*)        

Chahal gives it a rip to Root, who slog sweeps and misses. Dhoni has the bails off, but Root is always well back.

They've got the engagement couple up in the Sky comms box.

Could be that the ten over period there between 30-40 overs is what wins India this series.

1:55PM

OVER 39: ENG 224/5 (Root 75* Moeen 5*)       

A third consecutive four-run over for India, this time from Umesh Yadav. More than acceptable for the tourists at this stage of the innings. The danger man Kuldeep Yadav still has three overs up his sleeve.

1:53PM

OVER 38: ENG 220/5 (Root 74* Moeen 2*)      

Another handy over from Andya Pandya. Four off the over.

1:48PM

OVER 37: ENG 216/5 (Root 71* Moeen 1*)     

Sunny day, decent track, sun out: England are going to need well north of 300 I feel.

1:43PM

WICKET! Buttler c Dhoni b Umesh Yadav 4

Jos flashes hard at the ball outside off, the ball has got a little bigger on him than he'd hoped, he's edged behind and that's a big blow for England. FOW 214/5

1:41PM

OVER 36: ENG 212/4 (Root 70* Buttler 2*)    

Eight off Pandya, who is into the third over of his spell. He is a wholehearted and reliable operator.

1:37PM

OVER 35: ENG 204/4 (Root 64* Buttler 0*)   

Umesh Yadav returns and Kohli is rewarded with a very welcome one-run over. Skipper himself with a fine stop in the covers.

1:36PM

OVER 34: ENG 203/4 (Root 63* Buttler 0*)  

A bit too low on the card for my taste, but here is Jos.

1:31PM

WICKET! Stokes c Dhoni b Pandya 5

Stokes with a froo-froo, fussy little shot, trying to run the ball down to third man. Just give it a thump, big lad!  He doesn't get the correct contact at all and is caught at the wicket. FOW 203/4

1:27PM

Drinks: England 200/3 (Root 61* Stokes 4*) 17 overs left

England still have plenty of reason for optimism. "To be honest I think [the total they might get] depends on how Kuldeep's last three overs go," says Broad. "England will look to target the other end."

1:25PM

OVER 33: ENG 200/3 (Root 61* Stokes 4*) 

Root reverse sweeps, the wily old Dhoni has read it, he bustles across and that's not a million miles away! Root gets four to third man. Root continues to ride his luck  a little, clipping it to midwicket for four.

1:24PM

OVER 32: ENG 189/3 (Root 55* Stokes 2*)

Three off the Pandya over.

1:23PM

OVER 31: ENG 189/3 (Root 54* Stokes 0*)

It is Ben Stokes in. Jos, the man in form, sits and waits.

1:15PM

WICKET! Morgan c Dhawan b Kuldeep Yadav 53

Low quality cricket all round in this over. First, Morgan smears the ball and it lands safely between two fielders. Now Virat Kohli, whose standards are normally so high, unleashes a strange, wild throw - almost petulant it looked, and there's an overthrow. That causes Dhoni to slip, which he doesn't enjoy because he has a groin problem. Now a full toss from Kuldeep and, would you believe it, Morgan has slapped it straight down the fielder's throat. FOW 189/3

1:12PM

OVER 30: ENG 185/2 (Root 54* Morgan 49*)                             

The quiet middle overs living up to their name today. England pottering along nicely, India somewhat lacking in intensity.

1:10PM

OVER 29: ENG 181/2 (Root 53* Morgan 46*)                            

Kuldeep Yadav comes back. Root  clips the ball off his pads and that is another trademark, stealth fifty from Joe Root. "He has barely played a shot in anger," notes his friend Stuart Broad.

1:03PM

OVER 28: ENG 176/2 (Root 49* Morgan 45*)                           

England haven't really tagged Chahal yet, but Morgan's lined him up now! Big six over long on.

1:02PM

OVER 27: ENG 168/2 (Root 48* Morgan 38*)                          

Morgan and Root too good for Suresh Raina here. Two nice boundaries. Aerial sweep from Morgan, a cut from Joe.

1:00PM

OVER 26: ENG 156/2 (Root 42* Morgan 32*)                         

Chahal goes for four. I wonder what a winning total is on this pitch? England are playing pretty well. 

12:53PM

OVER 25: ENG 152/2 (Root 41* Morgan 29*)                        

A chance for Suresh Raina to bowl his offies. No wicket threat to speak of but there are six off the over.

He's got 36 wickets in ODIs, having bowled in 99 innings. Takes his wickets at 49.5 but on the upside, his economy rate of 5.07 is no disgrace.

12:52PM

OVER 24: ENG 146/2 (Root 38* Morgan 26*)                       

YuzvendraChahal was watching on the big screen and he applauded. But the boy needs to get his head in the game: he's just bowled a front foot no ball! Fortunately for the bowler, Root cannot capitalise and is caught off the free hit. Six off the over.

12:49PM

A man just proposed to a lady in the crowd!

She said yes! Sweet. They look like nice people. 

12:45PM

OVER 23: ENG 140/2 (Root 35* Morgan 24*)                      

Ten off Pandya.

12:40PM

OVER 22: ENG 130/2 (Root 29* Morgan 22*)                     

Four off the Chahal over. Morgan needs further treatment at the end of the over on his elbow.

12:37PM

OVER 21: ENG 126/2 (Root 27* Morgan 20*)                    

More sensible construction from England. Pandya digs the last ball of the over in, Morgan mistimes the pull and is hit on the elbow. Ouch.

12:33PM

OVER 20: ENG 121/2 (Root 24* Morgan 18*)                   

Morgan hit on the pad by Chahal, but that's too high. Spun in and straightened nicely enough.

Three quiet overs in a row.

12:31PM

OVER 19: ENG 118/2 (Root 21* Morgan 18*)                  

That's Kuldeep done for the while. Pandya returns.

Period of accumulation. England cannot afford to lose another.

12:27PM

OVER 18: ENG 115/2 (Root 19* Morgan 17*)                 

Chahal change of ends. Two off the over.

12:22PM

OVER 17: ENG 113/2 (Root 18* Morgan 16*)                

India are on the attack, Kuldeep Yadav with a couple of close catchers, but that does mean that there are plenty of gaps. Rare poor ball, wide full toss. Root slots that away. Now Morgan sweeps hard and true. There are 12 off the over and that might make Kohli think about putting his exciting new toy away for a bit.

12:19PM

OVER 16: ENG 101/2 (Root 13* Morgan 9*)               

Three fours in the over: Root clips off his toes for four. Now a jammy shot from Morgan! Inside edge for four. But now a legit clip away for four.

12:14PM

OVER 15: ENG 88/2 (Root 8* Morgan 1*)              

Virat used his left-arm wristy in FOUR separate spells at Trent Bridge: "Almost like a strike bowler," notes Mike Atherton. He's certainly the main man for India today so far.

12:11PM

WICKET! Roy c Umesh Yadav b Kuldeep Yadav 40

He's done it again! Another sweep, another wicket. But at least Jason Roy can say that he actually hit it, I guess. He gives this a big, meaty heave, but he has whacked it straight to the man on the midwicket fence, who takes a good catch. FOW 86/2

12:10PM

OVER 14: ENG 86/1 (Roy 40* Root 7*)             

Root with some good work against Yadav, clever clips to the legside, nice way to settle.

12:08PM

OVER 13: ENG 81/1 (Roy 39* Root 3*)            

Kuldeep's got a slip and a leg slip in, but Roy is not letting him have it all his own way. Short ball, and Jason has crunched that through cover. Stop the clocks: England have hit Kuldeep for a boundary!

12:01PM

OVER 12: ENG 74/1 (Roy 33* Root 2*)           

Three off the Yadav over.

11:56AM

OVER 11: ENG 71/1 (Roy 31* Root 1*)          

Joe Root, who needs runs, has one of them off his first ball.

11:53AM

WICKET! Bairstow b Kuldeep 38

Oh I say! First ball is the stock ball, Bairstow goes back and it rags back sharply. Big turn. Dobbled to midwicket. But the second ball is a pearler! Oooh, Jonny Bairstow. He's going to be seeing that a few times. It pitches outside leg, YJB sweeps but it's the wrong-un, and it has bowled Bairstow around his legs after flicking his pad! Brilliant bowling. FOW 69/1

Good work from Ian Ward, he says that the reason Kuldeep's googly is tricky is because it has overspin as well, so if you try and watch it out of the hand it might look like the top-spinner. You cannot rely on watching the side-spin.

11:49AM

OVER 10: ENG 69/0 (Roy 30* Bairstow 38*)         

Sid Kaul is using that knuckler a lot, I think perhaps he senses that this pitch is a little puddingy, the ball not quite coming on. England keep swinging though, and are either timing it or muscling it well enough. Kaul produces a couple of low full tosses, one per batsmen, and each man smears it away for four.

"End of the powerplay, but the beginning of the game," says Nasser. Why? Because here comes Kuldeep. Can Bairstow pick his wrong-un? What advice has batting coach Graeme Thorpe been able to pass on?

11:44AM

OVER 9: ENG 60/0 (Roy 26* Bairstow 33*)        

Yuzvendra Chahal comes on for an over of his leggies, and Kohli will be well satisfied to see his spinner go for just four in the powerplay.

11:39AM

OVER 8: ENG 56/0 (Roy 24* Bairstow 31*)       

Good from Stuart about the knuckle ball: he says that his fingers are too long so his knuckles stick up over the top of the ball and thus the batsman knows it is coming! Ha.

Anyway, they are talking about that delivery because Kaul has used it in this over. Twice in this over Jason Roy is early on his shots, but both times his luck is in. Lobs it over cover for four.

11:34AM

OVER 7: ENG 49/0 (Roy 18* Bairstow 30*)      

Hardik Pandya's had some wallop! Full ball to Roy, and he sends it sailing over long off. Single, and now Bairstow plays a flamboyant stroke, carving the ball over point. That was pure Caribbean. Jonny'd need his factor 90 out there...  Thumps another one through cover, this is tremendous striking. 15 off the first four balls but, fair play to Pandya, two slower balls stem the bleeding.

11:30AM

OVER 6: ENG 32/0 (Roy 10* Bairstow 21*)     

Kaul gets one to move back markedly off the seam, and it pins Roy on the pad. India appeal, but do not review, and that is because it hit him outside the off-stump. Kaul seems to be enjoying the Lord's conditions.

11:27AM

OVER 5: ENG 27/0 (Roy 7* Bairstow 20*)    

A change of bowling, Pandya. Four off the over.

11:22AM

Ahead of the big (?) football match later

Have a read of this lovely piece by Rob Bagchi about how football (very nearly) came home. It's a smashing bit of work.

11:19AM

OVER 4: ENG 23/0 (Roy 6* Bairstow 17*)   

A well set field, and some sub-par shot placement, mean that England only manage a couple off this Sid Kaul over.

11:16AM

OVER 3: ENG 21/0 (Roy 5* Bairstow 16*)  

Roy with a bit of a dicey slicey shot. Followed the ball. Now Umesh Yadav to Bairstow, and this one hasn't bounced as much as he would have expected, pulls over the ball. Nothing wrong with the trajectory of the following delivery, though: not when it bounces up truly, and not when Jonny Bairstow socks it over the fence for six!

11:09AM

OVER 2: ENG 12/0 (Roy 4* Bairstow 8*) 

Siddarth Kaul finding some early outswing, but Bairstow is in fine touch. He carves one behind point, and then drives another languidly back down the ground. Both of those are well worth four. Would have had a few more as well, but Pandya made two solid stops at point. Seems to be runs on offer today, although the pitch does look a little grassy. Perhaps they didn't want anything too dry, on account of the Indian spin threat?

11:05AM

OVER 1: ENG 4/0 (Roy 4* Bairstow 0*)

Nice start for Jason Roy: legside from Umesh, Jason just tucks that away with the minimum of fuss for a four first ball. But nearly a nicer start for Umesh third ball! Fences at it, edges behind, but the edge just drops short of the keeper, MD Dhoni.

11:00AM

The players then

are out on the pitch, and it is another Yadav, Umesh Yadav, who will open the bowling from the Nursery End.

10:55AM

Both sides are unchanged from the Trent Bridge match

teams as follows:

England: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (c), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wk), Moeen Ali, David Willey, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.

India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli (c), Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Siddarth Kaul, Kuldeep Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal.

10:47AM

Lord's cricket incoming

Morning! It's a glorious day at Lord's, England have won the toss, and they are going to bat first against India in this second ODI. If India win today, that's the series: there is one match to come, up in Leeds in three days time. 

England batted first at Trent Bridge as well, and that did not go very well at all. They were rattled out for 268, the chief destroyer being Kuldeep Yadav. He took six wickets with his left-arm wrist-spin, ten overs six wickets for 25, sensational bowling and the best figures for a spinner in an ODI in England.

Scyld Berry, as he does so well, puts the bowling performance in context here.

India's Kuldeep Yadav has mastered the rarest form of bowling, not seen by an Englishman in more than 50 years

England have better catch on fast: it looked like most of their top order could not pick Kuldeep, only Jos Buttler looked remotely comfortable. 

Someone who is not comfortable is Alex Hales, he is missing this match, and the next three weeks or so, with a side muscle tear.