Joe Root, who scored only 63 runs in the first five games of The Hundred this year, has notched up successive fifties, including an unbeaten 41-ball 64 against Welsh Fire on Sunday (August 24).
Root, whose T20 career - 3,026 runs at 32.53 - pales in comparison to his Test and ODI records, did not get off to the greatest start in this year’s Hundred. Playing for Trent Rockets, he registered scores of 6, 20, 27, 6 and 4 in his first five games, aggregating 63 runs at 12.60 at a strike rate of 103.27.
Joe Root bounces back after lean run
However, he bounced back in style against the Oval Invincibles, scoring 76 off 41 while opening the innings. He hit 11 sixes and one six, scoring his runs at a strike rate of 185.36, single-handedly leading his team to a total of 171-7. No other batter from the side made more than 30.
While his efforts went in vain against the Invincibles, he ensured he saw the team through on Sunday against Welsh Fire. Chasing a total of 150-6 against Fire - a side that has Steve Smith opening for them - Root got going immediately, hitting a six off the second legal delivery that he faced. He brought up his fifty on the 90th ball of the innings and saw the team over the line.
Once again, Root had to hold one end up: Barring his opening partner, Tom Banton (32 in 20), no other batter crossed 15, as Trent Rockets lost regular wickets. From 116-2, they were 136-7 within 18 balls, but they eventually registered a crucial win. The Rockets are now second on the points table, with five wins from seven games.
Match 27, Welsh Fire vs Trent Rockets
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- Ball by ball Over
Root now has 203 runs from seven games in The Hundred, more than tripling his season’s tally in the last two games. His strike rate in the last two games has also gone up to 140.
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