Joe takes root for England

Cricket. Almost exactly a year ago, Root and Carberry put on 197 in a 10-wicket win over West Indies.

LEICESTER. Joe Root continued his prolific early-season form with his third hundred in four innings as his England Lions team fought back strongly against New Zealand at Grace Road.
Root (105*) and Michael Carberry (77) shared a stand of 182 in a stumps total of 219 for two as the captain, sure to be named in England’s Test squad tomorrow, took his first-class tally well beyond 500 runs in just those four attempts so far this summer.

Toby Roland-Jones (four for 54) had earlier doubled his wicket tally to help bowl the Kiwis out for 285 - a mediocre return for the tourists, who had closed a rain-restricted first day on 184 for three but endured a bleak second with both bat and ball.

After Hamish Rutherford went early, for the addition of only 10 to his overnight 116, the Kiwis never threatened significant consolidation despite a durable 42 not out from Dean Brownlie. Root and Carberry, joining forces after the early departure of Varun Chopra.