Joe Root playing a shot during the match
However, on 5 September 2014, India fell short in the final ODI against England, losing by 41 runs. Despite the defeat, Dhoni’s men had already sealed the five-match series with commanding performances earlier, eventually lifting the trophy 3-1. That final encounter at Headingley was a reminder of classic ODI battles, where both sides fought hard till the end.
The last match of the India tour of England in 2014, played on September 5 at Headingley, Leeds, was a thrilling contest where England beat India by 41 runs. Even though India had already won the series 3-1, England fought hard in this final ODI, thanks to a superb century from Joe Root and a strong bowling effort.
England batted first after India chose to bowl, putting up a solid 294/7 in their 50 overs, scoring at just under 6 runs an over. Joe Root’s fantastic hundred was the backbone of their innings, with good support from Alastair Cook, Jos Buttler, and Ben Stokes. India’s bowlers, especially Mohammed Shami, had some good moments but couldn’t stop England from setting a big target.
The innings started with Alastair Cook and Alex Hales at the crease. Hales looked to get going but was out early, making just 4 runs off 9 balls. He nicked one from Umesh Yadav to Ajinkya Rahane at slip in the 4th over, leaving England at 23/1. India’s fast bowlers were getting the ball to move, and they struck again when Moeen Ali came in. Moeen hit two quick fours for his 9 runs off 8 balls but edged Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Umesh Yadav in the 7th over. At 39/2, India were in a strong position, sensing a chance to keep England’s score down.
Alastair Cook, leading by example, settled things down with Joe Root. They put on 52 runs together for the third wicket, playing carefully to handle the early swing. Cook looked solid, scoring 46 off 64 balls with 6 fours, but his stay ended when he edged Suresh Raina’s spin to MS Dhoni behind the stumps in the 20th over, making it 91/3. Eoin Morgan came in next, but he found it tough, scoring just 14 off 34 balls. Ravichandran Ashwin got him stumped by Dhoni in the 29th over, and at 117/4, India were keeping the pressure on with their spinners.
The game shifted with a brilliant 108-run partnership between Joe Root and Jos Buttler for the fifth wicket. Root played with calm and class, finding gaps and keeping the scoreboard moving. He got to his fifty off 68 balls with neat drives and clever shots. Buttler brought his attacking game, smashing 49 off 40 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes. They added 50 runs in just 43 balls, and by the 35th over, England crossed 150. The batting Powerplay from overs 35 to 40 was a big success, adding 55 runs without losing a wicket. Buttler’s quickfire knock ended in the 43rd over when he was run out for 49 after a sharp throw from Dhoni, leaving England at 225/5.
Root kept going strong, reaching his hundred off 105 balls, a top-class knock of 113 with 10 fours and 3 sixes. He mixed steady play with bold shots, guiding England through the middle overs. He was out in the 46th over, caught by Ashwin off Mohammed Shami, with the score at 249/6. Ben Stokes then took charge, finishing not out on 33 off 23 balls, hitting 3 fours and 2 sixes to give England a late push. Chris Woakes added 9 off 9 balls before Shami bowled him in the 48th over. James Tredwell chipped in with 8 not out off 5 balls, helping England finish strongly at 294/7.
India’s bowling had its ups and downs. Mohammed Shami was the best, taking 2/52 in 10 overs, getting Root and Woakes with sharp deliveries. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/45) and Umesh Yadav (1/46) got early wickets but gave away runs later. Ravichandran Ashwin bowled well, taking 1/49 in 10 overs, and Suresh Raina’s 1/32 was a handy contribution. Ravindra Jadeja had a tough day, leaking 66 runs in 9 overs without a wicket. India had moments of control but couldn’t stop England’s late charge.
Chasing 295, India were all out for 253 in 48.4 overs, falling 41 runs short. Ravindra Jadeja’s brave 87 and Ambati Rayudu’s solid 53 gave them hope, but early wickets and a lack of partnerships hurt their chase. England’s bowlers, with Ben Stokes leading the way and support from James Anderson, Moeen Ali, and Steven Finn, bowled tightly to seal the win.
India’s chase started badly when Ajinkya Rahane was out for a duck, caught by Eoin Morgan off James Anderson in the first over, leaving them at 0/1. Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli tried to rebuild, but Kohli, struggling for runs, made 13 off 21 balls with two fours before edging Anderson to Alastair Cook in the 7th over, making it 25/2. Dhawan played some nice shots, hitting 4 fours and a six for his 31 off 44 balls, but Moeen Ali bowled him in the 14th over, leaving India at 49/3.
Ambati Rayudu and Suresh Raina looked to fight back. Raina, who had been in great form all series, made 18 off 23 balls with 2 fours but was caught by Jos Buttler off Moeen Ali in the 22nd over, with India at 91/4. Rayudu played a steady knock, reaching his fifty off 59 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes. He and MS Dhoni added 41 runs for the fifth wicket, taking India past 100 in the 25th over. But Rayudu was out, caught by Cook off Ben Stokes in the 31st over, leaving India at 132/5, needing a big partnership.
Dhoni, leading from the front, made 29 off 42 balls with a four and a six, but he couldn’t go big, falling to Steven Finn, caught by Stokes, in the 37th over at 173/6. Ravindra Jadeja, coming in at No. 7, played a fearless knock, keeping India in the game. He got support from Ravichandran Ashwin, who scored 16 off 19 balls. Their 30-run stand for the seventh wicket took India past 200 in the 42nd over. Ashwin was out to Stokes in the 43rd over, and the lower order fell apart. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was run out for 1, and Mohammed Shami was caught for a duck off Stokes, leaving India at 209/9.
Jadeja kept fighting, scoring 87 off 68 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes. He reached his fifty off 48 balls and gave India a glimmer of hope, but he was running out of partners. The batting Powerplay from overs 34 to 39 was poor, adding just 27 runs while losing Dhoni. Jadeja’s lone battle ended in the 49th over when he was bowled by Finn, finishing India’s innings at 253. England’s bowlers were on point. Ben Stokes was the star, taking 3/47 in 7 overs, getting Rayudu, Ashwin, and Shami. James Anderson struck early, taking 2/39, removing Rahane and Kohli. Moeen Ali’s spin got 2/34, troubling India’s middle order. Steven Finn’s 2/37, including Jadeja’s wicket, wrapped things up. Chris Woakes (0/61) and James Tredwell (0/35) backed them up, making sure India couldn’t find the spark to chase the target.