Johnny Bairstow scored a brilliant century to help England set a daunting target of 337 in the World Cup group stage match against India in Edgbaston on Sunday.
Bairstow's freescoring innings was ably supported by Jason Roy, Ben Stokes and Joe Root as England rediscovered its batting prowess in a must-win game for the team.
India's bowlers suffered this sunny afternoon in Edgbaston and England duly took advantage of winning the toss in ideal batting conditions.
Openers Jason Roy and Johnny Bairstow took the English off to the best possible start, scoring 160 in just 22 overs for the first wicket. Roy survived a reprieve when he was given not out despite nicking a ball from Hardik Pandya to keeper MS Dhoni. Indian captain Virat Kohli, after consultation with his teammates, decided to not review the decision. Roy followed up the reprieve with a six and a four.
Wrist spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav conceded 160 runs in their twenty overs claiming one wicket - that of Roy with substitute Ravindra Jadeja claiming a brilliant catch on the boundary line.
Bairstow however continued to punish the Indian bowlers and brought up his century. After he was dismissed by Shami, Ben Stokes scored a quick-fire fifty to propel England past 300.
Despite a five-wicket haul for Mohammed Shami and disciplined bowling from Jasprit Bumrah, India conceded over 300 runs in the innings.
In the last two years, India has won just two games chasing a score of over 300. The team has lost on five occasions.
It was India's first outing in its blue and orange away jersey.