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01/04 20:03 CST Root's century defies Australia on Day 2 of the 5th Ashes
cricket test
Root's century defies Australia on Day 2 of the 5th Ashes cricket test
SYDNEY (AP) --- Joe Root's second century of the series kept an Australian
rally in check at lunch on Day 2 of the fifth and final Ashes test on Monday.
Root's masterful, unbeaten 138 was the highlight of the morning session as
Australia's bowlers chipped away at the middle order to have England at 336-6
at lunch.
Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc made early breakthroughs after Root and Harry
Brook's partnership had moved to 169 runs and was threatening to take the test
away from the hosts, who already have a winning 3-1 lead in the series.
Boland (2-75) ended Brook's equal parts streaky and sublime innings at 84, with
Steve Smith taking a sharp catch to bring to a close the best partnership of
the series across both teams.
Then Starc (2-77) removed England skipper Ben Stokes (0) for the fifth time
this series with a near unplayable delivery that shaped away from the
left-hander and the TV umpire review found it had caught a thin edge on its way
through to Alex Carey.
Milestone ton
After some nervy moments in the nineties as the pitch began showing signs of
variable bounce, Root's straight drive off Michael Neser allowed the 163-test
veteran to scamper through for two runs and complete his latest milestone off
146 balls, with 11 boundaries.
It was Root's 41st test century, but just his second in an Ashes test Down
Under. He's level with former Australia captain Ricky Ponting on the all-time
list of test centurymakers. Only Sachin Tendulker (51) and Jacques Kallis (45)
have more.
Root made 138 not out in the second test at Brisbane which was his first
century in Australia in his four Ashes tours.
Jamie Smith made an enterprising, and at times fortunate, 46 before he
holed-out to the part-time medium pace of Marnus Labuschagne just before the
break.
Smith had earlier been dismissed off a no-ball from Cameron Green, before next
ball edging the ball between wicketkeeper Carey and first slip Beau Webster.
On Day 1, Root and Brook guided England to 211-3 before bad light and rain
stopped play just before tea, after the tourists had slipped to 57-3 after
winning the toss and batting.
England lost each of the first three tests to allow Australia to retain the
Ashes in just 11 days of on-field action.
England then won its first Ashes match Down Under since 2011 with a four-wicket
win in the Boxing Day test.
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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
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