Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes lead way for England in remarkable run chase

England levelled the three-match ODI series ahead of the decider in a high-scoring encounter at Pune

England chased down 337 to beat India in a remarkable second ODI at Pune.

Jonny Bairstow made a hundred and Ben Stokes smashed 99 off just 52 balls as the tourists – captained by Jos Buttler in the absence of Eoin Morgan – raced to their victory target with 6.3 overs remaining.

Bairstow and Jason Roy had combined for a 13^th century partnership in just 43 innings together after India, led by a fine 108 from KL Rahul, had posted a seemingly imposing total on a belting pitch surrounded by inviting boundaries.

But one game down in the three-match series, England had other ideas. Stokes hit 10 sixes in his knock, batting at No.3 to fill the void left by Joe Root. Kuldeep Yadav’s nine overs were plundered for 77 runs, while Krunal Pandya – a hero for India in their win on Tuesday – saw his five overs taken for 65. Stokes brought up his fifty off 40 balls, before taking 43 from his next nine.

Somewhat ironically, given the telepathy between Roy and Bairstow, the former fell to a runout after a rare lapse in communication.

The 175-run partnership between Bairstow and Stokes came to an end 19 overs after it began, with Stokes gloving a bouncer one short of what would have been England’s third-fastest ODI hundred, before Bairstow – in prime touch – drove to cover and Buttler was bowled as England briefly wobbled, losing three wickets in eight balls.

Liam Livingstone, on his ODI debut, ensured there was no further alarm, hitting two sixes off Bhuvneshwar Kumar to quash any dangers of a collapse.

Earlier, India had appeared to be in control. Despite the powerplay wickets of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, Rahul and Virat Kohli put on 121 for the third wicket, before Adil Rashid had Kohli caught behind by Buttler, who had earlier dropped India’s captain off the same bowler.

His dismissal brought Rishabh Pant to the crease, recalled in place of Shreyas Iyer, who injured his shoulder while fielding in the first encounter. The wicketkeeper played a thrilling hand, setting the tone for what Stokes would later replicate. His 40-ball 77 included seven sixes and was backed up by Hardik Pandya, who hit four sixes in a 16-ball cameo late on.

Of the bowlers on either side, only Moeen Ali was spared punishment, though Reece Topley’s performance was hugely creditable in his first England appearance for seven months.

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