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01/04 22:26 CST Root's 41st century leads England to 364 on Day 2 of 5th Ashes
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Root's 41st century leads England to 364 on Day 2 of 5th Ashes test
SYDNEY (AP) --- Joe Root's second century of the series led England to 364 all
out in its first innings just before tea on Day 2 of the fifth and final Ashes
test.
Root's innings was finally ended at 160 from 242 balls on Monday when he popped
a return catch to Michael Neser, who dived across the pitch to grasp the ball
just inches above the ground.
Neser (4-60) was the pick of Australia's bowlers during the middle session with
three wickets, including Will Jacks (27), Root and last wicket of Josh Tongue
for a second-ball duck.
Earlier Root's 41st test century, but just his second in an Ashes test Down
Under, was the highlight of a morning session that saw Australia chip away at
the middle order to have England on 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 (2-85) 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 (2-93) 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 took 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 Neser allowed the 163-test veteran
to scamper through for two runs and complete his latest milestone off 146
balls, with 11 boundaries.
Root made 138 not out in the second test at Brisbane which was his first
century in Australia in his four Ashes tours.
The England star is now 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.
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.
Root and Jacks then combined for 54-run partnership before Neser's three quick
strikes wrapped up the innings.
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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