ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: After Joe Root, Jos Buttler blasts century to boost England vs Pakistan

Jos Buttler joined Joe Root in the list of centuries in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 as he hammered his ninth century off 75 balls to keep England in the hunt in their chase of 349 against Pakistan in the clash in Trent Bridge. Buttler and Root's partnership put England in the driver's seat but the dashing wicketkeeper-batsman. Buttler came into bat when Ben Stokes was dismissed by Shoaib Malik and he showed his intent by hammering a boundary and a six off Malik. Buttler batted aggressively and he survived a review when he missed a skidder from Shadab Khan and he capitalised by hammering Wahab Riaz for two boundaries.

Buttler notched up his fifty by hammering a six over deep midwicket off Shadab Khan. His confidence grew with two boundaries off Amir as he and Joe Root shared a partnership in excess of 100. Root reached his century first and although the England Test skipper fell for 107, Buttler carried on and kept England in the hunt. Buttler reached his landmark with a blazing four off Amir to wide long off but he fell immediately when he top-edged a short ball to Riaz at backward point to fall for 103.

Root became the first centurion in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 as he and Jos Buttler, who is also nearing a century put England in the driver's seat in the clash against Pakistan at Trent Bridge on Monday. Root, the Test skipper, played brilliantly and notched up his 15th century and seventh at home and shared a partnership of 130 with Buttler to put England on course to achieve the highest successful chase in the history of the World Cups. Root came to bat when Jason Roy had been trapped LBW by Shadab Khan for 8 and he started off with a bang by cutting the legspinner for a boundary to the third man fence.

In the fifth over bowled by Mohammad Amir, Root edged a full ball and Babar Azam at slip put down a simple chance. At that time, Root was on 9 and he made Pakistan pay. Despite losing the aggressive Jonny Bairstow for 32, Root ensured he scored at a steady pace and his strike-rate was over 100 for most of the innings. The Yorkshire right-hander calmly notched up his fifty and despite losing Ben Stokes, Root found great company in Jos Buttler.

With Buttler finding the boundary on a regular basis, Root found confidence by blasting a six off Shoaib Malik and the partnership with Buttler went past 100. Root neared his century when he pulled Hasan Ali to the deep square leg fence for a boundary and he quickly made progress through the nineties. Root reached his century in calm fashion by chopping Wahab Riaz to the off side and getting a single for his seventh century at home.

The partnership with Buttler looked to take the game away from Pakistn but on 107, Root cut a quick and short delivery from Shadab Khan to be caught at backward point by Mohammad Hafeez. Earlier, Pakistan notched up 348/8, their second-highest score in World Cups thanks to a brilliant knock of 84 from Mohammad Hafeez and attacking fifties from Sarfaraz Ahmed and Babar Azam. England had won their earlier game against South Africa by 104 runs while Pakistan got their tournament off to a poor start by losing heavily to the West Indies.

A win for England will put them in a great position while a victory for Pakistan will revive their campaign after a very tough match against the West Indies.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Jos Buttler smashed his ninth century.
• Joe Root hit his 15th century.
• Pakistan notched up 348/8, their second highest score in World Cups.