Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Root leads England to crushing win over West Indies

Joe Root's classy unbeaten century led England to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over West Indies in a one-sided Cricket World Cup match in Southampton on Friday.

Jofra Archer and Mark Wood took three wickets apiece as England bowled the Windies out for a modest 212 after winning the toss, and Root's 100 not out took the hosts and tournament favourites to their target with more than 16 overs to spare.


England's third win in four matches lifted them to second in the 10-team standings while West Indies are sixth following their second loss.

"It's obviously nice for this hundred to mean something and for us to win. It was a great toss to win and important we followed through on that," said man-of-the-match Root, who also took two key wickets.

"You pride yourself on working it out as a batsman, building big partnerships either when setting or closing down a chase like we did today. It was a really good team effort and performance."

England made a fast start when Chris Woakes dismissed Evin Lewis for two before Wood dropped destructive West Indies opener Chris Gayle.

The error did not prove too costly, however, as Gayle fell to Liam Plunkett for 36 and Shai Hope was trapped lbw by Wood for 11 to leave West Indies in trouble at 55-3.

Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer shared a fluent fourth-wicket partnership of 89, but Hetmyer was caught and bowled by Root for 39 and the part-time spinner soon dismissed Windies captain Jason Holder in identical fashion.

ARCHER STRIKES

Pooran was caught by wicketkeeper Jos Buttler off Archer and the West Indies-born pace bowler also sent back Carlos Brathwaite and Sheldon Cottrell before Wood bowled Shannon Gabriel to end the innings.

The only downside for England were injuries to captain Eoin Morgan and opening batsman Jason Roy which forced them to leave the field and forced changes in the batting order.

Root moved up to open with Jonny Bairstow and the pair shared a fluent partnership of 95 which ended when Bairstow, on 45, sliced Gabriel to third man.

Woakes, promoted to number three, batted positively, however, and he and Root peppered the boundaries in a second-wicket stand of 104.

Woakes was caught in the deep for 40 but Root completed his second century of the tournament and his 16th in one-day internationals before Ben Stokes ended the match with another four.

Morgan was struck down by a back spasm and Roy sustained a hamstring injury which will be assessed ahead of England's next game against Afghanistan on Tuesday.

"I'm a bit stiff and sore, had a bit of a back spasm which hasn't settled down yet," Morgan said.

"I get them two or three times a year and unfortunately it's come now, hopefully it settles down in the next 48 hours. Jason Roy had a stiff hammy but hopefully we don't present serious injuries."

More For You

Hideo Kojima Unveils Death Stranding 2 Trailer with Metal Gear Touch

Hideo Kojima introduces Death Stranding 2: On the Beach at SXSW 2025, revealing a new trailer packed with Metal Gear-style nods and confirming its PS5 release date

Instagram/kojipro2015_official

Hideo Kojima reveals Death Stranding 2 trailer and release date, packed with metal gear references

Hideo Kojima is back in the spotlight, and he’s bringing some familiar vibes with him. At SXSW 2025 in Austin, Texas, Kojima presented a brand-new look at Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. The nearly 10-minute trailer gave fans plenty to chew on: gameplay reveals, creepy visuals, and a release date, June 26, 2025, exclusive to PlayStation 5. Players who go for the Digital Deluxe or Collector’s Editions can dive in early on June 24. Pre-orders kick off March 17.

The trailer introduces a fresh face: Neil, portrayed by Italian actor Luca Marinelli. Fans immediately noticed his striking resemblance to Solid Snake from Kojima’s Metal Gear series. Neil throws on a bandana and commands a shadowy squad, making the connection even clearer. Kojima actually predicted this comparison back in 2020, when he said Marinelli would be the “spitting image” of Snake if he wore a bandana. Now, that prediction seems to have come full circle.

Keep ReadingShow less
india-champs-BCCI

The world’s top-ranked ODI team remained unbeaten throughout the eight-nation tournament, which was played in Pakistan and the UAE. (Photo: BCCI)

India beat New Zealand to claim third Champions Trophy title

INDIA secured their third Champions Trophy title with a four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the final on Sunday.

Rohit Sharma led from the front with a crucial 76, supported by a disciplined spin attack that restricted New Zealand to 251-7 in Dubai.

Keep ReadingShow less
india team

India enters the final as favourites and is expected to have strong crowd support at the 25,000-capacity venue. (Photo: Getty Images)

Champions Trophy final: 5 factors that may shape India-New Zealand clash

INDIA and New Zealand will meet in the Champions Trophy final on Sunday to determine the winner of the eight-team ODI tournament.

The match will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, where India has played all its games after opting not to travel to Pakistan, the designated host, due to political tensions.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chhetri

Chhetri, who is the fourth-highest men's international goalscorer, played his last match for India in June 2024 during a World Cup qualifier. (Photo: Getty Images)

Sunil Chhetri comes out of retirement at 40 to rejoin India squad

INDIAN footballer Sunil Chhetri has decided to return to the national team at 40, reversing his retirement announced last year.

The former captain, who is the fourth-highest men's international goalscorer, played his last match for India in June 2024 during a World Cup qualifier.

Keep ReadingShow less
mohammed-shami-getty

Shami is currently in Dubai as part of India’s squad for the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy and is the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament so far. (Photo: Getty Images)

Cleric says cricketer Mohammed Shami committed sin by not fasting

A MUSLIM cleric in India has criticised cricketer Mohammed Shami for not fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramzan, calling it a sin under Islamic law.

Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, national president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, said on Thursday that the Indian pace bowler had violated religious obligations by not observing the fast.

Keep ReadingShow less