He hit 12 fours in 246 balls.
Bridgetown (Barbados), With captain Joe Root’s 25th Test century, England got off to a good start by scoring 244 for three on the first day of the second Test against the West Indies. Root, who scored 109 in the second innings of the first Test that was drawn last week, was on 119 at the end of the day’s play. He hit 12 fours in 246 balls.
Root (Joe Root) surpassed his counterparts David Warner and Kane Richardson apart from veterans like Viv Richards, Greg Chappell and Mohammad Yousuf with the 25th Test century. Dan Lawrence (91) was also marching towards a century like his captain. He hit Jason Holder (1 for 52) for two consecutive fours in the final over of the day but was caught by West Indies captain Craig Brathwaite on the next ball.
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Joe Root stars with classy 119*.
Dan Lawrence hits Test-best 91.
️ Wicket in final over gives West Indies hope.#WTC23 , #WIvENG https://t.co/Snyt45FetE— ICC (@ICC) March 16, 2022
He shared a 164-run partnership for the third wicket with Joe Root. West Indies gave Root two lives. The team did not take a review against him on his personal score of 23 runs, while his catch was dropped on 34 runs. A catch of Lawrence was also dropped by the fielders. Root won the toss and decided to bat first. On a favorable batting pitch, the team lost the wicket of Jack Crowley, the century-scorer in Antigua, who could not even open the account.
He caught the wicketkeeper off Jaden Seals (one wicket for 30 runs). Openers Alex Lees (30) and Root added 76 runs for the second wicket to finish the innings. Lees, however, got leg before the delivery of Veeraswamy Permal after settling at the crease. Root then found a good partner in Lawrence and the duo put up a strong partnership of centuries to put the team in a strong position. Earlier, Root had to make changes in the team in the last moments.
In place of Craig Overton, who did not feel better at night, pacer Matthew Fischer was given the opportunity to make his debut. Fast bowler Saqib Mahmood had already been selected to make his debut, making it the first time since 2009 that two England pacers are making their debut together. Then Tim Bresnan and Graham Onions got the chance to debut. (agency)