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Century-maker Root steers England to 336-6 in final Ashes Test / Photo: © AFP
NYSE - LSE
Century-maker Root steers England to 336-6 in final Ashes Test
An imperious Joe Root scored his second century of the Ashes series and 41st overall Monday to steer England to a commanding 336-6 at lunch on day two of the fifth and final Test against Australia.
In front of a packed Sydney Cricket Ground, the world's top-ranked batsman was 138 not out with Will Jacks on three after the tourists resumed at 211-3.
Harry Brook (84) and skipper Ben Stokes (0) fell to Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc respectively, while Jamie Smith (46) was dismissed by part-timer Marnus Labuschagne.
Australia lead the series 3-1 and have already retained the Ashes, with England desperate to keep the momentum going after clawing back a win at the previous Test in Melbourne.
The morning belonged to Root, who started on 72 and reached his century off 146 balls, with 11 fours, to reaffirm his status as one of the all-time greats.
The 35-year-old began the gruelling series under pressure after failing to make a hundred in Australia over three previous Ashes tours, but he snapped the drought with a majestic unbeaten 138 in the day-night Test at Brisbane.
His exploits in Sydney drew him level with Australian Ricky Ponting to be third on the all-time century-maker list.
Only India's Sachin Tendulkar (51) and South African Jacques Kallis (45) have more.
Root and Brook came together with England in trouble at 57-3 on Sunday following the demise of Ben Duckett (27), Zak Crawley (16) and Jacob Bethell (10), steering them to safety before poor weather forced the final session to be abandoned on day one.
Both were eyeing big centuries on a deck ideal for batting.
But Brook only lasted five balls, adding six to his overnight 78 before dabbing at a Boland delivery and edging into the safe hands of Steve Smith at slip.
It ended a 169-run partnership, not only England's best of the series but the biggest by either team, surpassing Travis Head and Alex Carey's 162 in Adelaide.
Stokes only survived 11 balls before getting the faintest of edges off Starc.
The umpire gave it not out but the decision was overturned on review and he was gone for a duck.
Smith lived dangerously and was fortunate to still be there after chipping Cameron Green to Labuschagne at cover on 22. He began walking off but replays showed Green overstepped the mark.
He added another 24 before medium-pacer Labuschagne was brought on and bagged him in his first over, holing out to Boland.
G. Souza--JDB
