Joe Root record survives England’s early attempt at self sabotage
First, the Joe Root record arrived after England opened their chase with two wickets for two runs. This is the sort of score that makes a supporter check whether they have accidentally switched on highlights from a previous disaster.
Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith both made ducks. However, England had quietly arranged Joe Root to be next. He made an unbeaten 166, which is less a rescue act than a polite demolition of everyone else’s afternoon.
England were chasing 309 after West Indies made 308. Meanwhile, Adil Rashid took four wickets and waited for the batting to begin. The batting briefly interpreted this as a personal challenge.
By 93 for four, the chase had achieved the mood of a lift with a suspicious noise. Therefore, Root began collecting runs with the expression of a man correcting an invoice that somebody else had made deliberately complicated.
Record receives the only stable partnership
In addition, Root passed 7,000 ODI runs. He also overtook Eoin Morgan as England’s leading scorer in the format. The record responded with dignified silence, having seen enough England chases to avoid celebration too soon.
“Joe treats a collapse like a queue at the post office,” said Neville Forward Defence, director of sensible panic. “He waits, presents the correct form and leaves with the series.”
Consequently, West Indies watched a total that looked commanding become a historical footnote with snacks. The winning boundary passed through long on. Root celebrated with such restraint that television considered adding fireworks in post production.
Finally, England won by three wickets and sealed the series. The top order thanked Root for preserving the chase, the record and their right to call two ducks an aggressive platform.
Thus, England now possess an ODI record holder and a reliable method of generating drama. They merely need to lose two wickets immediately, then wait for Root to remember he has paperwork.
Read the real story: Sky Sports’ report on Joe Root’s record innings
