Joe Root reached 14,000 Test runs as England closed day four on 182-5 chasing 463 against New Zealand at The Oval. The former England captain was unbeaten on 75 at stumps in London on Saturday, keeping the hosts alive but leaving them 281 runs short of a target that would require a record-breaking final-day chase.
New Zealand remain in control of the second Test after setting England 463 and then taking five wickets before the close. Root is due to resume alongside debutant Jordan Cox on Sunday, with the Black Caps needing five more wickets to level the series.
Root milestone cannot hide England’s final-day problem
The scale of Root’s individual achievement is enormous. He has become only the second player in Test history to pass 14,000 runs, moving deeper into the territory previously occupied only by Sachin Tendulkar. But the match situation is still firmly against England, who have already lost half their side.
According to the AP report carried by the Washington Post, England were 182-5 at stumps after New Zealand tightened their grip on the Oval Test.
Root’s presence gives England a narrow route into day five, but the broader story is New Zealand’s control. Unless he turns a milestone innings into something extraordinary, the series is heading for a decider at Trent Bridge.
