Headingley Test: Joe Root equals Kevin Pietersen’s record with 23rd hundred

England captain Joe Root hit his third hundred of the series and finished 23rd in test cricket on day 2 of the ongoing third match against England at Headingley on Thursday.

Root equalled Kevin Pietersen’s tally on England’s all-time list as the hosts stretched their lead past 250 at Leeds.

Root and Kevin Pietersen are now tied in joint-second place behind Alastair Cook, who hit 33 hundreds during his playing career for England.

The hundred also saw Root take first place on the list of batsmen with most centuries between India-England Tests. Rahul David, Sachin Tendulkar and Cook were tied on 7 hundreds each before Root’s 8th while Mohammad Azahruddin and Kevin Pietersen had hit 6 each.

England skipper Joe Root batted like dream to hit his third successive hundred of the series to put his side in the commanding position on Day 2 of the third Test against India at Headingley on Thursday. Having bundled out India for a paltry 78, England’s top order fired in unison to power them to xxx-3, a lead of 300, at the end of play on day two of the contest.

Runs came thick and fast for England on the second day of the third Test as India bowlers appeared toothless despite getting the wickets of Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed, Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler in different sessions.

Having bundled out India for a paltry 78, England’s top order fired in unison to power them to 333-3, a lead of 255 runsat the time of Root’s hundred.

His 139-run partnership with Malan came to an end on the stroke of tea when Malan fell caught behind after a fluent 70.

Each one of England’s top four batsmen helped themselves to half-centuries against India.

After the hosts resumed on 120 for no loss, Mohammed Shami earned the breakthrough for the tourists when he pushed one through Rory Burn’s gate to hit the top of the off-stump.

Burns made 61 and featured in a 135-run stand with Haseeb Hameed for England’s highest opening stand since Alastair Cook and Hameed put on 180 against India in 2016.

Hameed made 68 before Ravindra Jadeja spun one past his bat to hit the off-stump for his first wicket in the seamer-dominated series.

Root, who hit a century in each of the last two tests, displayed his silky touch again, playing a couple of glorious backfoot punches that sent the ball racing to the boundary.

Playing his first test in three years, Malan cut and drove elegantly before tickling Mohammed Siraj to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.

Malan was initially ruled not out and Pant did not appeal. Siraj convinced India captain Virat Kohli to review the decision and UltraEdge confirmed the batsman had edged the ball.