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Joe Root produced a vintage masterclass in Cardiff on Sunday, smashing an unbeaten 166 to guide England to a thrilling three-wicket win over West Indies in the second ODI and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. In a chase that began with disaster—England were reeling at 2 for 2 after ducks from openers Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett—Root stood tall. His 18th ODI century came in his 168th appearance, but more importantly, it saw him leapfrog Eoin Morgan to become England’s all-time leading run-scorer in ODIs. Root now stands as the first English batter to breach the 7,000-run mark in the format. England hunted down the West Indies’ target of 309 with seven balls to spare, thanks to Root’s calm amid chaos. His innings was built on key partnerships—first an 85-run stand with captain Harry Brook (47), and later a match-turning sixth-wicket partnership worth 143 runs off just 120 balls with Will Jacks (49), which took the game away from the visitors.
The West Indies, vastly improved from their heavy 238-run defeat at Edgbaston, had earlier posted 308 runs, riding on Keacy Carty’s maiden century (103). He was ably supported by skipper Shai Hope (78) and Brandon King (59), with the trio pushing the visitors to 205 for 2 at one stage. But England’s bowlers responded in style. Adil Rashid (4/63) and Saqib Mahmood (3/37) led the fightback, triggering a collapse that denied West Indies a more imposing total.Quiz: Who’s that IPL player? Despite a spirited effort from Alzarri Joseph, who claimed 4 for 31 in a terrific 10-over spell, the Windies couldn’t break Root’s rhythm. The seasoned No. 3 was composed, clinical, and unflustered—displaying the kind of temperament England have long relied on him for. This match also marked the first series win under Harry Brook’s captaincy, giving England a confidence boost ahead of the final ODI at The Oval on Tuesday. For Root, though, it was more than just another match—it was a statement. The quiet Yorkshireman, so often the unsung hero in England’s white-ball machinery, now wears the crown as the nation’s most prolific ODI batter.
