Joe Root 104

England in dominant position

out

Joe Root 104
Joe Root 60

The Ashes – 1st Investec Test Day 3

Played at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. 8, 9, 10,11, 12 July2015 ( 5-day match)

England 430 ao (102.1 ov) JE Root 134 off 166, 17 fours, Gary Balance 61 off 149, 8 fours, Ben Stokes 52 off 78, 6 fours and 2 sixes, MM Ali 77 off 88 11 fours and 1 six, JR Hazelwood 83-3, Marc Stark 114-5 and  289 ao (70.1 ov) JE Root 60 off  89, 9 fours, IR Bell 60 off 89, 11 fours, NM Lyon 75-4, Mitchell Starc 60-2.

Australia 308 a0  (84.5ov) CJL Rogers 95 off 133, 11 fours and 1 six, MJ Clarke 38 off 52,  6 fours,  James Anderson 43-3, SCJ Broad 60-2,  MA Wood 66-2, MM Ali 71-2.

England set Australia 412 runs to win.

England had set a daunting score for Australia, and would be second highest run chase ever if they were to get them and they two days to do it.

On day three 15 wickets fell with about 300 runs scored. Both Ian Bell and Joe Root scored 60 to steer England to a 411 run lead.