Ton-up Root puts England on top against Kiwis

LEEDS, United Kingdom (AFP) –

England batsman Joe Root plays a shot during the second cricket Test match between England and New Zealand at the Headingley stadium in Leeds on May 25, 2013. England were 337 for seven at stumps on the second day after Root made 104.

Joe Root’s maiden Test century, on his Yorkshire home ground, left England well-placed in the second and final Test against New Zealand at Headingley on Saturday.

England were 337 for seven at stumps on the second day after Root made 104, having come in with England in trouble on 67 for three following Friday’s first day wash-out.

Together with Yorkshire colleague Jonny Bairstow (64), Root shared a fifth-wicket stand of 124.

However, left-arm quick Trent Boult brought New Zealand back into the match with a new-ball burst of three wickets for three runs in 13 deliveries to remove both Yorkshiremen and Stuart Broad.

But Matt Prior, dropped on 21, was 38 not out at the close and Graeme Swann, who survived the hat-trick chance, 21 not out with their partnership so far worth 51 in just 59 balls.

The 22-year-old Root, in his sixth match at this level, was the first Yorkshire batsman in the county’s 150-year history to make his first Test hundred at Headingley.

England batsman Jonny Bairstow (L) runs to complete a half century with Joe Root during the second days play in the second cricket Test match between England and New Zealand at the Headingley stadium in Leeds on May 25, 2013. England were 337 for seven at stumps on the second day.

It was another composed display by Root following his 71 in England’s 170-run first win in the first of this two-Test series at Lord’s last week, and meant he’d now scored 861 first-class runs in seven innings this season.

“It was very special and I’m sure I’ll remember it for a very long time. You only get your first one (Test hundred) once,” Root told reporters.

“It was nice to get it on your home ground. I wouldn’t say I was any more nervous, I just tried to play the situation.”

Meanwhile Boult said for all his new-ball wickets, New Zealand had under-performed in the field.

“The majority of our overs weren’t good enough. To get a bit of reward with the second new ball was satisfying.

“Joe Root definitely played extremely well. He’s got a good approach to batting, a good gameplan and scores all round the ground.”

After Boult’s treble, the quick-scoring Prior, dropped by Doug Bracewell at mid-wicket off Tim Southee, took the game away from New Zealand.

“That 50-run partnership ticked up pretty quickly, we probably missed a trick there,” said Boult.

England batsman Graeme Swann runs after playing a shot during the second days play in the second cricket Test match between England and New Zealand at the Headingley stadium in Leeds on May 25, 2013. England were 337 for seven at stumps on the second day.

Earlier, England captain Alastair Cook won the toss with the sunny blue skies overhead providing seemingly ideal conditions for batting.

England, after opener Nick Compton’s early exit, made largely untroubled progress during a second-wicket stand of 56 between Cook (34) and Jonathan Trott (28).

But Trott, driving well away from his body, was caught behind by New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum off left-arm seamer Neil Wagner.

And next ball, left-hander Cook flat-footedly edged recalled paceman Bracewell, part of a four-man seam attack with spinners Bruce Martin injured and Daniel Vettori unfit, to Brownlie as 67 for two became 67 for three.

At lunch, both Ian Bell and Root were nought not out.

Conditions became tougher for New Zealand’s seamers but occasional off-spinner Kane Williamson lived up to his reputation as a partnership breaker when he had Bell, carelessly caught behind for 30 by McCullum, keeping wicket after BJ Watling was ruled out with a knee injury he suffered at Lord’s.

At tea, England were 178 for four with Root 61 not out and Bairstow 13 not out.

England batsman Nick Compton walks back to the pavilion following his dismissal during the second day of the second cricket Test against New Zealand in Leeds on May 25, 2013. England were 337 for seven at stumps on the second day.

Root then surpassed his previous Test best of 73, made on his debut against India at Nagpur in December, with three fours in as many balls off Williamson — a drive and a sweep followed by a cheeky reverse sweep.

In the 90s, Root avoided being run out when Wagner deflected a Bairstow drive onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end and then survived an appeal for caught behind, to the vocal delight of the crowd.

But those cheers were nothing compared to when Root’s steer for four through the slips off Bracewell saw him complete a 156-ball century, including nine boundaries.

However, New Zealand took the new ball as soon as it was available and Boult’s first delivery with it saw Root caught behind off a loose shot, the century-maker swishing his bat in disgust.

Bairstow went the same way as did Broad, to give McCullum his fifth catch of the innings.