Joe Root Youngest England Batsman to Make World Cup Hundred
Joe Root's 108-ball 121 saw him beat the record of David Gower, who was 26 when he posted a hundred against Sri Lanka at Taunton during the 1983 edition.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: March 01, 2015 08:10 am IST
Joe Root became the youngest England batsman to make a World Cup hundred when he made 121 against Sri Lanka in Wellington on Sunday.
The 24-year-old's innings saw him beat the record of David Gower, who was 26 when he posted a hundred against Sri Lanka at Taunton during the 1983 edition.
Root scored a six and a four off successive Angelo Mathews deliveries to bring up his century at exactly a run-a-ball after England won the toss and elected to bat in this Pool A clash.
He was eventually out for 121 when lbw trying to reverse-sweep left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.
Root reviewed Bruce Oxenford's decision but, with tracking technology showing the ball clipping leg stump, the Australian umpire's original verdict was upheld to leave England 265 for six in the 47th over.
Root faced 108 balls, including 14 fours and two sixes.
It was England's second hundred of the 2015 World Cup, but first against a Test nation, after opener Moeen Ali made 128 against Scotland.