a firm push through long-on, what a way to win it! Root raises his arms at the moment of impact. What a mighty ODI knock, surely his greatest irrespective of context. He overcame the loss of three of the top five for ducks, and a seriously hot spell from Alzarri Joseph, to seal the series with a game to spare!
England vs West Indies, 2nd ODI at Cardiff, ENG vs WI, Jun 01 2025 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
2nd ODI, Cardiff, June 01, 2025, West Indies tour of England
New
ENG
Full commentary
7.28pm That's a wrap from Cardiff. What a remarkable match that was. Vish's report is waiting here for you. From Miller, Shashwat and Sudeep, good night!
7.19pm Time for the presentations. Guess who's Player of the Match?
Joe Root: "From being 2 for 2, nice to get over the line, and finish the series off. Tricky wicket, bowlers always felt in the game, good to be there at the end. Managed situations, Alzarri bowled exceptionally well, but a couple of important partnerships throughout, Jacks was exceptional, showed maturity in a postion that he's not played in a lot, he should be extremely proud.
"I'd like to think there's enough to keep that motivation [to be at 2027 World Cup]. When you've got that fire in your belly, you keep scoring and contributing. Harry Brook has come in and put his stamp on things, would be easy to revert back but he wants to lead the team in a certain way, and went out to play in that way in a successful powerplay."
Shai Hope: "That position at 30-35 over mark, we should have got 30-40 more runs, but commend the bowlers, they fought to the end. We felt wickets were the key, was difficult to restrict."
Harry Brook: "He's only getting better with age, amazing to have him in the side. It didn't go our way at the start, bowlers bowled amazing to create those chances, on another day they stick. I want players who can manipulate the field and Jacks can score hundreds. To have a proper batter at 7 is key. The boys work really well today, and showed in our performance. Willing to fight for each other. Great to get a series win in the first one."
7.07pm Incredible knock from an incredible player. Stamina, poise and shot selection, even a rare outing of Root's power game. Everything came together in a masterful run-chase. He had key support from Harry Brook at the start and Will Jacks through the middle, before Adil Rashid provided the calm head needed to close it out without fuss.
West Indies toiled, and Alzarri Joseph fizzed with raw pace and aggression, but they came to rue some odd options through the middle overs, and a lack of another specialist quick. What might have been in that double whammy early in the piece however, when Root was reprieved lbw and Brook dropped in the space of two balls. Four down in the powerplay and this would have been over.
Saifi: "This innings of Joe Root reminds me Ross Taylor's brilliant match winning knock of unbeaten 181 against England"
48.5
4
Seales to Root, FOUR runs
48.4
2
Seales to Root, 2 runs
dragged off the good length, into the deep midwicket pocket. Scores are level!
48.3
1lb
Seales to Rashid, 1 leg bye
squared up on the fuller length, squirted to the off-side, another single as they scamper through
OxTiger: "14 unused balls! That has come back to bite WI in the back."
48.2
•
Seales to Rashid, no run
Aggression again! Short and angled into the chest, Rashid wears it well once more, fending out to point
48.1
1
Seales to Root, 1 run
right back on the stumps, clipped calmly to midwicket. Four to win it
end of over 486 runs
ENG: 304/7CRR: 6.33 • RRR: 2.50 • Need 5 runs from 12b
Adil Rashid10 (9b 2x4)
Joe Root159 (136b 20x4 2x6)
Matthew Forde 9-0-76-1
Justin Greaves 9-0-54-0
And West Indies have been penalised for a slow over-rate, an extra man inside the ring
47.6
•
Forde to Rashid, no run
on the front foot, blocked into the off-side. Another fraught over, but it's all still going England's way
47.5
•
Forde to Rashid, no run
another cutter, this looks plumb! Forde gives it the celebappeal... is there an inside-edge? Yes there is! West Indies review, but there's a graze of bat before the ball thuds into the pads
47.4
4
Forde to Rashid, FOUR runs
short, leg-sided, Rashid rocks into the pull, and pings it behind square!
47.3
1
Forde to Root, 1 run
picked off behind square for another single
47.2
•
Forde to Root, no run
Lines up the Root-scoop, bails out and settles for a late, late cut! Ball goes nowhere but it just shows the speed of thought. It wasn't in the slot, so he adjusted
AwaliCamel: "late Rashid and Mahmood wickets, leaving 14 balls unfaced going to be the main difference. (Along with Root!)" Yes, it is looking significant right now
47.1
1
Forde to Rashid, 1 run
full length, clipped with good timing off the toes, a decent pounce at midwicket but the single is banked
end of over 4710 runs
ENG: 298/7CRR: 6.34 • RRR: 3.66 • Need 11 runs from 18b
Joe Root158 (134b 20x4 2x6)
Adil Rashid5 (5b 1x4)
Justin Greaves 9-0-54-0
Alzarri Joseph 10-1-31-4
Sonny: "Has anyone mentioned Rashid's First Class hundreds yet? Because next man in, Potts, has one as well!" They just did...
46.6
4
Greaves to Root, FOUR runs
too short, put away with aplomb through backward square! He was just biding his time. Respectful to the good balls, dismissive to the bad one. On he marches. England nearly home now
46.5
•
Greaves to Root, no run
pressed into the off side once more, that Rashid four has taken the urgency out of this over
46.4
•
Greaves to Root, no run
fuller length, pushed back through the line. Again leg-sided, prepared to show his stumps seeing as his eye is so emphatically in
46.3
1
Greaves to Rashid, 1 run
good follow-up, opening the face outside off and guiding the single to deep third
46.2
4
Greaves to Rashid, FOUR runs
too short, Rashid launches through a pull! That's bonus runs, but he can always smoke them when they are in his arc! Through midwicket to huge cheers
Root goes past Roy's ODI best at Cardiff, from the 2019 World Cup
46.1
1
Greaves to Root, 1 run
full length, attacking the top of off, Root shows his stumps and pats a cut down to deep third
end of over 46Wicket maiden
ENG: 288/7CRR: 6.26 • RRR: 5.25 • Need 21 runs from 24b
Adil Rashid0 (3b)
Joe Root153 (130b 19x4 2x6)
Alzarri Joseph 10-1-31-4
Matthew Forde 8-0-70-1
45.6
•
Alzarri Joseph to Rashid, no run
wears it in the chest! "Urgghooff!" is the approximate noise that Rashid makes as he gets right back on his stumps and drops his hands for the national cause. What a spell though. Deserves so much better than heroic failure. Can his teammates oblige?
45.5
•
Alzarri Joseph to Rashid, no run
fired in fuller on a wider line, thuds the toes but going down. One ball to survive a truly torrid spell...
45.4
•
Alzarri Joseph to Rashid, no run
right in behind the line, or at close as Rashid ever gets. Bat squarely on ball
Adil Rashid
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