ROOT SCOOPS TON OF FUN

Joe's sheer audacity as Kiwis crushed

- Rory Dollard

IT was hardly his most elegant moment but Joe Root saw the funny side.

Two runs away from the 36th Test century of his career, Root dropped to his knees to play the reverse ramp against Will O'Rourke, tumbling to the floor and just wicketkeeper Tom Blundell.

Grinning, he charged to celebrate with captain Ben Stokes at the other end.

And what did Stokes think?

"I thought it was amazing...to scoop a 6ft 9in giant who was bowling rockets," said the skipper. "It came off and it was awesome."

Root hammered the next ball for four, but he was then caught one-handed by Blundell from the one after that, with Stokes immediately drawing the innings to a close, even though he was 49 not out.