Joe Root delivered an impressive performance in the second Test match between New Zealand and England in Wellington, where he reached his 36th Test century. With the century, Root equalled Rahul Dravid’s tally of 36 hundreds in Test cricket and stands at 5th position in the all-time list for centuries.
The 33-year-old was batting on 98 when he played a ramp shot off William O’Rourke’s delivery which went off flying over wicketkeeper Tom Blundell’s head for a boundary.
England crushed New Zealand by 323 runs
England dominated the match, sealing the series with a 2-0 victory in the three-match contest. Resuming Day 3 at 73 runs, Joe Root led England to an impressive total of 427/6 before the team declared, setting New Zealand a daunting target of 583 runs. England’s batters displayed relentless form, putting the visitors firmly under pressure from the outset.
In response, New Zealand’s batting struggled, managing only 259 runs. Despite a valiant century from Tom Blundell and some support from Daryl Mitchell (32) and Nathan Smith (42), it was not enough.
England’s bowlers effectively countered the kiwi batters; Ben Stokes claimed three wickets, while Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, and Shoaib Bashir each took two wickets. Ultimately, England won the match by 323 runs. This victory marked England’s first series win on New Zealand soil since 2008.
Harry Brook was named Player of the Match for his contributions, but Joe Root stood out as the series’ star performer. He achieved several milestones, including his 100th Test fifty and surpassing Sachin Tendulkar for the most runs in fourth innings of Test matches. Root also surpassed Alastair Cook to become England’s highest run-scorer in Test cricket.
England’s comprehensive victory not only clinched the series but also showcased their dominance across all aspects of the game, leaving New Zealand searching for answers.
