Reece Topley hit India for six to light up Lord’s in an emphatic win and set up a Sunday finale.
Topley’s record-breaking 6-24 are now the best ever figures by an England bowler in ODI cricket and provided the perfect pick me up for skipper Jos Buttler after Tuesday’s shellacking south of the river.
This time it was India who were routed by a whopping 100 runs after failing to get to grips with England’s beanpole left armer who has knocked Paul Collingwood’s 6-31 against Bangladesh into 2nd spot.
And it is just rewards for Topley who has battled back from several injuries to make his mark with England, not least the back surgery he had at the Wellington Hospital across the road in 2018, that could have ended his career.
"It was a terrific team performance to bounce back from the other day and I'm just happy that I played my part," said Topley. "It means a lot, it makes it all worthwhile to be honest. It was just over that stand where I had surgery three years ago so it has gone full circle which is crazy.
"It is everyone's dream to play for England. I just want to pull the shirt on as many times as I can and play my part. It is a privilege every time. It is a big game at the weekend. I've just got to prepare for that and wrap up the series and then we'll deal with whatever is next."
Just like the World Cup final played on this ground exactly three years previously when England and New Zealand tussled over a low scoring contest, the home side again came out victorious, defending just 246, and they would have won on a boundary countback too.
It gave captain Jos Buttler his first ODI win on home soil since taking over as skipper and even though the scorecard looked like it could have come from 20 years ago, it showed that his team are capable of scrapping with the best of them.
Four of the top six registered ducks at the Oval, here, eight of the eleven made it into double figures with the lower order hitting of Moeen Ali and David Willey leading the way.
"I’m delighted for Reece," said Buttler. "He’s a very popular member of the team and for him to come back from what he’s been through is an incredibly special performance.
"He’s got a real sense of perspective due to the things he has been through, thinking that he might not play again. We thought we were a little bit light at the halfway stage, but we bowled terrifically well and it is a special feeling to win."
While the Lord’s pitch wasn’t quite as testing as the Oval on Tuesday, it was still far removed from the belter England were hoping for when India won another toss and inserted for the second time.
Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root and Ben Stokes all got themselves in, but Yuzvendra Chahal’s skilful legspin got them out with the sweep and reverse sweep costing them dear. In the end though, England scored more than enough to win with plenty to spare.
