Root ton boosts English total

London, July 14: Joe Root’s century (113) allied to fifties from captain Eoin Morgan (53) and David Willey (50 not out) helped England to a total of 322/7 against India in the second one-day international at Lord’s on Saturday.

It was a significantly improved effort after the hosts were dismissed for 268 in India’s eight-wicket win in the series opener at Trent Bridge on Thursday.

That match saw India left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav take a stunning 6/25.

When Yadav struck with the second ball of his first over at Lord’s, as he had done in Nottingham, England fans in a capacity crowd here might have feared the worst.

But this time the spinner did not run through the top order, although Kuldeep still finished with the good figures of 3/68 in a match where another India win would see them take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

England made a brisk start, with Jonny Bairstow in fine touch.

But he was out for 38 as Kuldeep once more took a wicket after coming on in the 11th over.

Fellow opener Jason Roy (40) also fell to Kuldeep when he slog-swept straight to Umesh Yadav at deep midwicket.

Kuldeep had taken two wickets for nine runs in 12 balls and England were 86/2. Root completed a 56ball fifty and Morgan followed him to the landmark in 49 balls.

But left-hander Morgan feel for 53 when he hit a Kuldeep full toss to Shikhar Dhawan at deep midwicket to end a thirdwicket stand of 103.

Ben Stokes (five) and Jos Buttler (four) then managed just nine runs between them.

Root, however, held firm, completing a 109-ball century and then hoisting Pandya for a six over midwicket. David Willey hit a quickfire maiden ODI fifty off 30 balls including five fours and a six. Willey helped Root add 83 for the seventh wicket before the Test captain was run out for 113 on the last ball of the innings. — AFP Scores: England 322/7 (J. Root 113, E. Morgan 53, D. Willey 50 not out, K. Yadav 3/68) vs India. England’s Joe Root celebrates his century against India in their second ODI at Lord’s in London on Saturday.