England’s Joe Root struck a record-extending 34th Test century as the hosts moved closer to the series win over Sri Lanka in the second Test at Lord’s on Saturday. Root, who had equalled the England record of Alastair Cook earlier in this week, went past it with hundreds in both innings of this game.

Joe Root Hits 34th Test Century

His newest hundred, is the quickest-ever at Lord’s, it came from just 111 balls and after which he was dismissed for 103. That was vital in an England total of 251 which left Sri Lanka to chase a world-record target of 483 to win. With seven sessions left, Sri Lanka has the massive task of either trying to chase that or batting out for a draw to take the series to a decider at The Oval next week. They closed the day at 53-2 as bad light curtailed play.

Root’s 34 centuries took him alongside the all-time leading cricketing greats Sunil Gavaskar, Brian Lara, Younis Khan, and Mahela Jayawardene. He now needs just 95 runs to reach Alastair Cook’s England record of 12,472 Test runs. Root’s father was at the venue to witness this historic feat from his son.

Also Read: DPL T20: Dynamic Duo Ayush Badoni And Priyansh Arya Shatter Records, Set Ground-Breaking Partnership

England On The Verge Of Series Win

It was another tough day, though, for Ollie Pope. The stand-in England captain made it to double figures for the first time in four innings but was out for 17 playing an ambitious shot in trying counter Sri Lanka’s short-ball plan.

Ben Duckett was out for 24, caught on the rebound by Angelo Mathews after Nishan Madushka flung himself to his right. Ollie Pope went to Asitha Fernando’s short-pitched plan, trying to take on Sri Lanka’s lavish leg-side field and succeeded in picking out the solitary off-side boundary fielder at deep backward point.

Harry Brook was dropped on 9, but went on to make 37 before falling to Prabath Jayasuriya, who also had Jamie Smith lbw for 26 after he missed a sweep. Joe Root made his sixth fifty-plus score in eight innings this summer, celebrating with a classic late cut off Milan Rathnayake as he showed little discomfort against Jayasuriya.

Chris Woakes chipped a catch to extra cover, and Gus Atkinson – fresh from his maiden first-class hundred the day before – played an unorthodox reverse pull for four before slapping a catch to Rathnayake.

Also Read: ‘He Has Done An Excellent Job’: Jonty Rhodes Applauds KL Rahul’s LSG Captaincy Amidst Exit Rumours

England’s lead had breezed past 450 and, though Root was creeping closer to his hundred, there was no imminent danger of a declaration. Root moved past Graham Gooch’s record of 2,015 Test runs at Lord’s and finally reached his milestone century after some heavy breathing against a short-ball barrage from Fernando.

Root was the last man given out caught to deep square leg, and he also reached his 199th and 200th Test catches after an early tea as Nishan Madushka and Pathum Nissanka edged to first slip off Atkinson and Olly Stone respectively.

The teams left the field soon in evening and play was called officially off an hour later. Dimuth Karunaratne was not out on 23, and nightwatchman Jayasuriya on 3.