Root reaches 14,000-run milestone but New Zealand edge towards victory
Cricket – England v New Zealand – Second Test – Kia Oval, London, Britain – June 20, 2026 England’s Kyle Jamieson celebrates after taking the wicket of New Zealand’s Emilio Gay Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
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June 20 : England batsman Joe Root became only the second player to reach 14,000 test runs as he led his side’s resistance with an unbeaten half century against New Zealand on day four of the second test at The Oval on Saturday.
Set a colossal 463 to win after New Zealand were bowled out for 362, Root came to the crease two runs shy of the milestone only Indian great Sachin Tendulkar has reached and with England tottering on 13-2.
Interim skipper Root was still there at the end of the day on 75 not out although at 182-5 England’s chances of avoiding defeat still look slender.
New Zealand will require five wickets to level up the series and set up a decider at Trent Bridge next week while England still need an improbable 281 runs for victory.
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Root, captaining the side for a record-extending 65th time after Ben Stokes was left out after breaking a team curfew, was his usual cool presence as he kept New Zealand’s pace attack at bay on a sultry afternoon in south London.
England opener Emilio Gay made a positive start, driving Matt Henry elegantly through the covers for a boundary but in the next over he flicked a ball from Kyle Jamieson off his pads straight to square leg where Rachin Ravindra took the catch.
Four balls later Jamieson trapped Jacob Bethell plumb lbw for a duck, completing a miserable match with the bat for England’s number three.
Opener Ben Duckett then played an awful shot off a short ball from Will O’Rourke, dollying a catch to Henry at mid-wicket to fall for nine.
Root was then joined by Harry Brook and the pair decided the best policy in such dire circumstances was to attack.
Brook thumped two boundaries in one over off Nathan Smith and in the next over Root hit three off O’Rourke.
Brook brought up his 50 off his 33rd ball, guiding Jamieson to the third man boundary.
Root was spared an lbw dismissal by an inside edge but Brook’s thrilling charge was halted when he edged his first-innings tormentor Henry to Daryl Mitchell.
Jamieson was rewarded for his relentless line and length as he trapped James Rew lbw for 15 on review.
With the weather set fair Root will need one of the greatest innings of his illustrious career if England are to pull off a record run chase on Sunday.
Source: Reuters
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