Superb Root steers England to success

Majestic unbeaten 166 guides hosts to series win over West Indies

- By DAVID CHARLESWORTH

JOE ROOT starred with a majestic unbeaten 166 as England ended a run of four one-day series defeats in a row by beating West Indies by three wickets at Sophia Gardens.

After a ragged display in the field with four dropped catch-es and two missed run-outs which allowed the Windies to post 308 all out, which was led by Keacy Carty’s 103, England were reeling on 133 for five in reply.

But Root thumped two sixes and 21 fours, putting on 143 in 121 balls alongside Will Jacks, who made a vital 49, to lift England into an unassail-able 2-0 lead in the Metro Bank series.

The Yorkshireman, who leapfrogged Eoin Morgan to become England’s all-time leading ODI run-scorer dur-ing his 139-ball innings, helped England claim a first ODI series win since Septem-ber 2023.

Brandon King (59) and Shai Hope (78) backed up Carty but England fought back thanks to four for 63 from Adil Rashid and Saqib Mahmood’s three for 37 as the Windies lost their last eight wickets for 103.