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26-May-2013 05:14:00 GMT
England v New Zealand, 2nd Test, Headingley, 2nd day

Root Ton Delights Headingley Crowd

Leeds: Joe Root thrilled his home crowd with his maiden Test century to put England in a solid position against New Zealand at Headingley.

The 22-year-old, playing only his sixth Test, put on 124 for the fifth wicket with his Yorkshire team-mate Jonny Bairstow.

Root became the first Yorkshireman to score his maiden Test century at Headingley and the 11th youngest England centurion of all time before falling to the first delivery with the new ball for 104.

Bairstow soon followed after a fluent 64 and Stuart Broad made a duck as England threatened to undo much of their good work before Matt Prior's quick-fire unbeaten 38 took them to 337-7 at the close on day two.

The hosts, who lead the two-match series 1-0 following a 170-win in the opening Test at Lord's, will be looking to push on towards 400 on Sunday before picking apart the Kiwis' fragile batting line-up.

England had lunched on 67-3, with Jonathan Trott and captain Alastair Cook falling in successive balls before the interval after Nick Compton had gone early for just one.

Ian Bell added 30 in a partnership of 79 with Root, but it was the combination of the young Yorkshire pair that really transformed the mood among the colourful Headingley crowd.

At 146-4, England needed a partnership of substance, which Root and Bairstow duly delivered to the delight of their adoring public.

Brief scores
England
337 for 7 (Root 104, Bairstow 64, Prior 38*, Boult 3-48)


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