‘Smack it as far as you can mate’: Joe Root reveals what he told Gus Atkinson before being stranded on 99

England’s veteran batter Joe Root played the anchor role in the successful run chase in second ODI of the series against India. Root became the first England batter to remain not out for 99 in an ODI. The former captain missed his 21st ODI ton as Gus Atkinson finished the run chase with a boundary when three runs were left to get over the line. After the four-wicket win, Root was asked what did he tell Atkinson before missing a golden chance to reach three figures. He revealed he told the teammate to finish it off. He is happy with the opportunity to help England stay alive in the ODI series. 

“I said smack it as far as you can mate. Like I say, you've got to just win the game and if there's an opportunity to get the job done, you don't leave anything to chance. You just get it done. Brilliant to be there with him at the end and to have that moment. We've given ourselves a real opportunity of winning the series against a very good team,” Root said in a video posted by the England Cricket on social media.

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Atkinson’s cameo with Root on other end

Root was batting on 88 when Will Jacks lost his wicket to Gurnoor Brar in the 40th over. England still needed 37 more runs in the last 10 overs. In Brar's next over, Root and Atkinson hit a boundary each. Bumrah was batting on 97 after the 42nd over.

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When Jasprit Bumrah returned to the attack, Atkinson hit a six.  In Brar's final over the match, Atkinson hit a four and kept the strike as well. Four runs were needed when Prasidh Krishna came into the attack. He started off with a wide. Then, Atkinson did not take a single to give Root strike to get to his century, Instead, he played the pull shot of the short delivery. The ball went to the deep square leg boundary as England won with 35 balls to spare.

Root achieves milestone

Root also became the third England batter to score 1,000 or more runs in ODIs against India. He will have a chance to move up in the list when the two teams lock horns in the third and final ODI of the series at Lord’s, London. The third ODI could also mark an end of Rohit Sharma’s ODI career.