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Bairstow hammers a ton as India win revives England World Cup hopes

Birmingham: A spirited England ended India's unbeaten run in the Cricket World Cup with a 31-run victory in a high-scoring group match to boost their semi-final prospects on Sunday.

England's cricketers celebrate the dismissal of Indian batsman Hardik Pandya.

England's cricketers celebrate the dismissal of Indian batsman Hardik Pandya.Credit:AP

Jonny Bairstow smashed a belligerent 111, Jason Roy returned from a hamstring injury to make 66 and Ben Stokes (79) provided the late burst in England's commanding 7-337 after electing to bat on an Edgbaston featherbed.

Rohit Sharma smashed his third hundred of the tournament and Virat Kohli his fifth successive half-century but India did not get another significant partnership and finished on 5-306.

England leapfrog Pakistan to fourth place with 10 points from eight games, while India remain second on 11 from seven matches.

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The hosts had missed opener Roy in back-to-back defeats by Sri Lanka and Australia that had jeopardised their semi-final prospects.

England's Jonny Bairstow after scoring a World Cup century against India at Edgbaston on Sunday.

England's Jonny Bairstow after scoring a World Cup century against India at Edgbaston on Sunday.Credit:AP

The 28-year-old made an instant impact on his return, forging the tournament's highest opening stand with Bairstow and both survived some torrid moments before tearing into the Indian attack during their 160-run stand.

Bairstow nearly deflected a couple of inside edges on to the stump and Roy got a caught-behind reprieve on 21 when he gloved Hardik Pandya.

The umpire, however, declared it wide and the Indians deliberated for a while before deciding against reviewing the decision in front of a crowd dominated by India fans.

England reached the 150 mark in the 21st over and it took a stunning catch by substitute fielder Ravindra Jadeja in the deep to send back Roy.

Bairstow brought up his eighth ODI century off 90 balls, celebrating by dropping his helmet, stretching out his arms and soaking in the applause.

Mohammed Shami (5-69) returned to end Bairstow's 109-ball blitz which included six sixes and 10 boundaries.

India managed to stem the boundary flow in the 30-40 over period, when they conceded only 43 runs while claiming two wickets.

Stokes clobbered three sixes and six boundaries in his blistering knock before JaspRead More – Source

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