ROOT CELEBRATES PAARL ROYALS SIGNING WITH SUPER CENTURY

Joe Root celebrated his pre-signing with the Paarl Royals for Betway SA20 Season 3 with a series-winning century for England in the second Test against the West Indies at Trent Bridge.

Root, 33, was unveiled on Friday as the first new signing for third instalment of South Africa’s premier domestic T20 competition.

ALSO READ: Paarl Royals sign Joe Root for SA20 Season 3

The technically gifted batter immediately showed the quality he will be adding to Betway SA20 with a superb 122 off 178 balls in England’s second innings.

Root’s century, along with Harry Brook’s 109, allowed England to set the Windies a target of 385 for victory.

The tourists could unfortunately not match their valiant first innings effort of 485, and despite starting promisingly by reaching 61 without loss, they were eventually bundled out of 143. 

When Root brought up his half-century, he went past former West Indian batter Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s Test tally of 11 867 and into eighth place on the all-time list of Test run-scorers.

He is now within touching distance of surpassing another West Indies legend Brian Lara’s 11 953.

It was also his 32nd Test century, drawing him level with Australia’s Steve Waugh and Steve Smith, and Kane Williamson of New Zealand. 

It was also his fifth at Trent Bridge, equalling the ground record held jointly by former Denis Compton and former England captain Mike Atherton.