Opener Alex Hales contributed 65 and Ben Stokes was typically brutal down the order with his 53 from 37 balls. “We have considered tweaking it (bowling attack) every game so we will consider it again”. Root did not disappoint, and nor did the current world No 1 Test bowler Stuart Broad, who took 6 for 17 in the second innings and will return for his first ODI in nearly a year.
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Root’s innings provided yet more confirmation of his class as he found a way to score big runs when the pitch was at its most hard during the day.
South Africa bounced back in the ODI series after losing their first two matches.
This highveld venue, where the ball famously flies so far off the bat because of the 4,000 feet of altitude, is universally associated with huge limited-overs scores.
After sharing in a 62-run stand with Faf du Plessis, Amla edged a Chris Jordan ball to Jos Buttler to make his way back to the dugout on 127 (130b, 13×4, 2×6).
Kyle Abbott and Kagiso Rabada were the pick of the bowlers for South Africa as the duo shared four wickets between them.
Stuart Broad is set for a ODI comeback.
South Africa came back into the series with a dominating display at the Supersport park in Centurion and will look to carry on with the newfound momentum to square the series and take it to the decider on Sunday (February 14).
Morgan’s opposite number AB de Villiers had something to smile about at last, after South Africa at least kept themselves in the reckoning.
Root made his 125 off 113 balls with ten fours and five sixes, scarcely playing a false stroke. “If I go to India, it will be a dream come true because that’s where I want to be, representing my nation at a World Cup”, he said.
He added: “It’s gone quite well for me personally, but the bottom line is we’re 2-0 up – which is the more satisfying thing”.
With conditions loaded in the batsmen’s favour, England’s record one-day total of 408-9, scored against New Zealand at Edgbaston last June, could be in danger.
Eoin Morgan’s (8) stay at the crease also proved to be a short one facing 24 balls before David Wiese claimed his wicket with Amla taking the catch at short midwicket with England on 187/4.
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The resourceful Root did not join the exodus, adding an eighth ODI hundred to his career-best 125 in Tuesday’s defeat at Centurion – and rescuing a long-shot chance that England could after all prevail here to clinch the series with a 3-1 lead.
