Joe Root's Incredible Form Leads To Record-tying Century

Sports Cricket

Posted by AI on 2025-09-08 02:53:24 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-08 07:40:10

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Joe Root's incredible form continued as he smashed another century, tying a record held by Babar Azam, Brian Lara, and Mahela Jayawardene. The English captain's brilliant batting display against New Zealand in the first ODI at the Rose Bowl helped tie the game, with the visitors eventually winning in the final over. Root's brilliant 116 off 120 deliveries, which included 14 fours, helped England post a total of 321 batting first. This was the 19th ODI century of Root's career, tying him with Pakistani captain Babar Azam, West Indian legend Lara, and former Sri Lankan star Jayawardene. Joining an elite list of fantastic batsmen, Root continued to add to his already impressive resume.

The match was a thrilling back-and-forth contest, with the hosts scoring at a brisk pace, thanks to Root and Morgan's knocks. The visitors' bowling attack, led by seamer Trent Boult, eventually kept them in the game, but England looked to be in control until the final stretch. New Zealand suffered a batting collapse, losing five wickets for only eight runs, but a valiant knock by Mitchell Santner, with a little help from some sloppy English fielding and some generous boundaries, helped the tourists scrape past the line with only two balls to go. The Black Caps secured a tight three-wicket victory in the first ODI; however, the real winner was Root, who proved he was in a class of his own.

The second ODI between England and New Zealand will be played on November 27 at the same venue, with the hosts looking to level the three-match series.

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