Joe Root’s Spectacular 166 Secures England’s Victory and Series Win Over West Indies
ENGLAND V WEST INDIES
Joe Root walks off to a standing ovation after guiding England to victory © Getty
Joe Root delivered a masterclass in batting during the second ODI against the West Indies, scoring an impressive 166 runs off just 139 balls. His innings, which included 21 fours and 2 sixes, not only overshadowed Keacy Carty’s fighting century (103) but also led England to a thrilling three-wicket victory in Cardiff, clinching the series with a 2-0 lead.
The West Indies, after being put to bat first, managed to post a competitive total of 308 runs, yet England’s experienced set of batters helped their team reach the target with 7 balls to spare.
West Indies Fight Back to Set a Challenging Target
The West Indies encountered an early setback, losing their opener Jewel Andrew for a duck in just the second over, bowled by Brydon Carse. However, a solid partnership developed between Brandon King and Keacy Carty, which proved vital for their innings.
- Carty and King Partnership: They put on a valuable 141-run partnership, helping West Indies recover from 1-1.
- Key Contributions: Carty scored 103, while Shai Hope added 78 to the scoreboard.
- Wicket Breakdown: West Indies lost wickets steadily, but Gudakesh Motie’s late-order hitting helped secure the 300 mark.
Ultimately, they managed to post a sizeable 308 runs, but the pressure was on their bowlers to defend it effectively.
Joe Root Takes Center Stage
Chasing 309 runs, England suffered an alarming start as both openers – Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett – returned to the pavilion without scoring. However, the introduction of Harry Brook and Joe Root to the crease started to change the momentum. Brook launched a quickfire 47, but it was Root’s innings that stole the limelight.
- Milestones: Root not only scored an impressive 166*, he also became England’s leading run-scorer in ODIs, surpassing Eoin Morgan.
- Turning Point: His partnership with Will Jacks, who contributed a brisk 49, proved pivotal during the chase.
- Intense Finish: In the final overs, Root’s calmness under pressure allowed England to ease across the finish line in the 49th over.
Bowling Highlights
While Root was the star with the bat, Alzarri Joseph gave a standout performance with the ball for West Indies, claiming 4 wickets for just 31 runs. His pace and bounce troubled the English batters and played a critical role in keeping the West Indies in the contest.
| Bowler | Overs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alzarri Joseph | 10 | 4 | 3.10 |
| Adil Rashid | 10 | 4 | 6.30 |
| Saqib Mahmood | 9.4 | 3 | 3.80 |
Despite the spirited efforts from the West Indies bowlers, it was Joe Root’s brilliance that ultimately determined the match’s outcome.
Conclusion and Looking Ahead
This match showcased not only the exciting aspects of ODI cricket as both teams went toe-to-toe, but it also highlighted Joe Root’s status as one of the leading players in the format. With England taking a 2-0 series lead, the West Indies will need a significant turnaround if they hope to salvage pride in the upcoming ODI. As the teams prepare for the next contest, all eyes will be on whether they can keep up the thrilling momentum that has characterized this series so far.
Brief scores: West Indies 308 in 47.4 overs (Keacy Carty 103, Shai Hope 78, Brandon King 59; Adil Rashid 4-63, Saqib Mahmood 3-37) lost to England 312/7 in 50 overs (Joe Root 166*, Will Jacks 49, Harry Brook 47; Alzarri Joseph 4-31) by 3 wickets.
© Cricbuzz
