England’s Joe Root stormed to his 19th ODI century in the third and final match against South Africa at The Rose Bowl in Southampton. The experienced batter shared a mammoth 182-run partnership with fellow centurion Jacob Bethell after openers Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith laid a strong foundation.

South Africa had opted to field first, but Smith and Duckett gave England early momentum. Smith, alongside Root, pushed the score beyond 100. At 117/2, Bethell arrived and built a superb stand with Root. The pair navigated the second powerplay with control, edging England towards the 300 mark. Bethell went on to register a fine 110, striking 13 fours and three sixes, before falling to Keshav Maharaj.

Harry Brook followed soon after, run out cheaply for 3 off 2 balls. Root then found support from Jos Buttler, and together they added quick runs in a 69-run stand from just 38 balls. Root eventually departed after completing his century from 95 deliveries. Buttler carried on with an explosive 62 off 32, and in the closing stages Will Jacks chipped in with an unbeaten 19 off 8. England closed their innings on a commanding 414/5 in 50 overs.

Root’s tally of 19 ODI centuries remains unmatched by any other Englishman as no other player has even reached 15. This innings saw Root reach his 10th ODI century on home soil, the most by any England batter. Root is now the 12th player globally to register double-digit ODI tons in home conditions.

In all formats, Root has amassed 58 international centuries for England. Former skipper Alastair Cook sits a distant second with 38. Remarkably, 39 of Root’s hundreds have arrived in Test cricket, further underlining his status as England’s most prolific run-getter in the longest format.