Stylish batsman Joe Root scored a smashing 124 before being pulled down by India&#39;s Umesh Yadav on the first day of the opening Test against India on Wednesday.

Root was in top form during his 144-ball knock, which was studded with nine fours, almost replicating his 154 not out against India during the 2014 series.

The 25-year-old right-hander shared a 107-run stand with Moeen Ali, who was on 48, to take England to 209-3 at tea at the Saurashtra Cricket Association ground in Rajkot.

The unbroken stand for the fourth wicket steadied England after the visitors were reduced to 102-3 in the first session.

Root, who struck his 24th Test half-century and fifth against India, survived a review for lbw after replays showed an inside edge, while the left-handed Ali also frustrated the Indian bowlers.

Nothing seemed to go India&#39;s way in the afternoon as leading seamer Mohammed Shami limped with a likely hamstring injury.

The opening session saw Haseeb Hameed, 19, become the youngest player to open the batting for England on debut.

The youngster, dubbed &quot;Baby Boycott&quot; for his unflappable style, made 31 during his 98-minute stay at the crease before falling lbw to world number one-ranked spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (2-60).

Ashwin also dismissed Ben Duckett for 13 after skipper Alastair Cook elected to bat on what seemed a placid wicket.

Hameed as well as Cook (21) benefited from the largesse of India&#39;s fielders who were guilty of dropping some early chances.&nbsp;

Cook was dropped off Shami off the third ball of the innings while Hameed got a reprieve on 13 when Murali Vijay grassed his catch at first slip.

The England skipper, who surpassed Michael Atherton&#39;s record of 54 Tests as England captain, was adjudged leg before off left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (1-42).&nbsp;

TV replays showed the ball would have missed the leg stump but Cook did not refer to the third umpire even though the decision review system is being used for the first time by India in a home series.

Hameed showed little sign of nerves against top-ranked India, twice hitting Shami for boundaries in an over and driving Ashwin for an elegant four in the covers.

(AFP)

His unbroken stand for the fourth wicket steadied England after the visitors were reduced to 102-3 in the first session

Stylish batsman Joe Root scored a smashing 124 before being pulled down by India's Umesh Yadav on the first day of the opening Test against India on Wednesday. Root was in top form during his 144-ball knock, which was studded with nine fours, almost replicating his 154 not out against India during the 2014 series. The 25-year-old right-hander shared a 107-run stand with Moeen Ali, who was on 48, to take England to 209-3 at tea at the Saurashtra Cricket Association ground in Rajkot. The unbroken stand for the fourth wicket steadied England after the visitors were reduced to 102-3 in the first session. Root, who struck his 24th Test half-century and fifth against India, survived a review for lbw after replays showed an inside edge, while the left-handed Ali also frustrated the Indian bowlers. Nothing seemed to go India's way in the afternoon as leading seamer Mohammed Shami limped with a likely hamstring injury. The opening session saw Haseeb Hameed, 19, become the youngest player to open the batting for England on debut. The youngster, dubbed "Baby Boycott" for his unflappable style, made 31 during his 98-minute stay at the crease before falling lbw to world number one-ranked spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (2-60). Ashwin also dismissed Ben Duckett for 13 after skipper Alastair Cook elected to bat on what seemed a placid wicket. Hameed as well as Cook (21) benefited from the largesse of India's fielders who were guilty of dropping some early chances. Cook was dropped off Shami off the third ball of the innings while Hameed got a reprieve on 13 when Murali Vijay grassed his catch at first slip. The England skipper, who surpassed Michael Atherton's record of 54 Tests as England captain, was adjudged leg before off left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (1-42). TV replays showed the ball would have missed the leg stump but Cook did not refer to the third umpire even though the decision review system is being used for the first time by India in a home series. Hameed showed little sign of nerves against top-ranked India, twice hitting Shami for boundaries in an over and driving Ashwin for an elegant four in the covers. (AFP)

Cricket: Root scores century for England in first test against India

Sean Williams scored a maiden test century in vain as New Zealand clinched a comprehensive innings and 117-run victory over hosts Zimbabwe on day four of the first test on Sunday. 
 
Williams, who was battling flu, scored the quickest test ton by a Zimbabwean off 106 balls before becoming the ninth man out for 119 having smashed 21 fours. 
 
Zimbabwe were dismissed shortly before tea in their second innings for 295, with seamer Trent Boult the pick of the visiting bowlers as he picked up 4-52 on a flat batting track. 
 
&quot;The fight was excellent. After the first innings, I thought we were soft,&quot; Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer said at the post-match presentation, before highlighting his teams troubles in the test. &quot;We probably have 10 guys sick in the change room.&quot; 
 
Zimbabwe faced a mammoth task to make New Zealand bat again, having been skittled for 164 in their first innings and allowing the tourists to amass 576 for six declared in reply. 
 
New Zealand would have had thoughts of a quick finish on the fourth morning as Zimbabwe resumed on 121 for five, especially when Craig Ervine (50) was out in the second over soon after bringing up his maiden test half-century. 
 
But a magnificent 118-run seventh-wicket stand between Williams and Cremer (33) took the home side past lunch before the latter was trapped lbw by Ish Sodhi. 
 
Regis Chakabva (11), who missed the second and third days&rsquo; play with a virus, hung around for 41 balls before he was bowled by Tim Southee. 
 
A visibly wilting Williams then holed out to deep mid-wicket off Mitchell Santner after scoring 119 off 148 balls. 
 
The win was complete when Neil Wagner, who finished with match figures of 8-103, had Donald Tiripano (14) caught by wicketkeeper BJ Watling. 
 
&quot;The first innings bowling effort after [losing] the toss was outstanding, and it put us ahead in the game,&quot; New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said. 
 
&quot;To get the score we did and put Zimbabwe under pressure was outstanding. We&#39;re looking forward to the next match. 
 
Zimbabwe continued their dismal record against New Zealanders and are now winless in 16 meetings, this being their 10th loss. 
 
The second and final test starts on Saturday at the same venue. 
 
(Reuters)

Williams was battling flu, but managed to score the quickest test ton by a Zimbabwean off 106 balls

Sean Williams scored a maiden test century in vain as New Zealand clinched a comprehensive innings and 117-run victory over hosts Zimbabwe on day four of the first test on Sunday. Williams, who was battling flu, scored the quickest test ton by a Zimbabwean off 106 balls before becoming the ninth man out for 119 having smashed 21 fours. Zimbabwe were dismissed shortly before tea in their second innings for 295, with seamer Trent Boult the pick of the visiting bowlers as he picked up 4-52 on a flat batting track. "The fight was excellent. After the first innings, I thought we were soft," Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer said at the post-match presentation, before highlighting his teams troubles in the test. "We probably have 10 guys sick in the change room." Zimbabwe faced a mammoth task to make New Zealand bat again, having been skittled for 164 in their first innings and allowing the tourists to amass 576 for six declared in reply. New Zealand would have had thoughts of a quick finish on the fourth morning as Zimbabwe resumed on 121 for five, especially when Craig Ervine (50) was out in the second over soon after bringing up his maiden test half-century. But a magnificent 118-run seventh-wicket stand between Williams and Cremer (33) took the home side past lunch before the latter was trapped lbw by Ish Sodhi. Regis Chakabva (11), who missed the second and third days’ play with a virus, hung around for 41 balls before he was bowled by Tim Southee. A visibly wilting Williams then holed out to deep mid-wicket off Mitchell Santner after scoring 119 off 148 balls. The win was complete when Neil Wagner, who finished with match figures of 8-103, had Donald Tiripano (14) caught by wicketkeeper BJ Watling. "The first innings bowling effort after [losing] the toss was outstanding, and it put us ahead in the game," New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said. "To get the score we did and put Zimbabwe under pressure was outstanding. We're looking forward to the next match. Zimbabwe continued their dismal record against New Zealanders and are now winless in 16 meetings, this being their 10th loss. The second and final test starts on Saturday at the same venue. (Reuters)

Sean William hits century but New Zealand seals innings win

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