Joe Root leads England to series win against West Indies
Joe Root hit a stunning 166 not out as England beat West Indies by three wickets at Sophia Gardens in the second ODI on Sunday to clinch the series. England scored 312-7 with seven balls remaining in reply to West Indiesโ 308 all out in 47.4 overs, led by Keacy Cartyโs 103.
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After winning the toss and putting on a ragged display in the field with four dropped catches and two missed runouts, England were reeling in its chase on 2-2 and 133-5. But Root thumped two sixes and 21 fours, putting on 143 in 121 balls alongside Will Jacks, who made a vital 49, to lift England into an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
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Root leapfrogged Eoin Morgan to become Englandโs all-time leading ODI run-scorer during his 139-ball innings. Root has 7,082 runs, passing Morganโs tally of 6,957.
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โI want to give as much as I can for England for as long as I can,โ Root said. โIโve still got a lot to give and a lot more runs in there and, hopefully, an innings like that shows that.โ England’s Harry Brook, who scored 47, enjoyed his first series win since becoming full-time white-ball captain.
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Brandon King (59) and Shai Hope (78) backed up Carty, but England fought back, thanks to 4-63 from Adil Rashid and Saqib Mahmoodโs 3-37 as the Windies lost its last eight wickets for 103. It seemed that the total would be enough to set up a decider at the Oval on Tuesday but Rootโs 18th ODI hundred and his highest score in the format got England over the line.
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His efforts were all the more remarkable after England lost three of its top five for ducks, including both openers, as Jamie Smith pushed hard and nicked off and Ben Duckett flashed to deep third. Jos Buttler also failed to score any runs. Alzarri Joseph took 4-31 in 10 overs. With the scores level, Root hit a four off Jayden Seales to seal the win and complete arguably one of his best innings in any format, given Englandโs dreadful start.