The 27-year old hit 180 and combined in a third-wicket stand of 221 with test skipper Joe Root, who made an unbeaten 91, to make the seemingly steep 305-run chase look easy and help England to their first win on the tour. Roy surpassed team mate Alex Hales's previous ODI best of 171 during his 151-ball knock as England cruised home with seven balls to spare in a morale-boosting victory, after a demoralising 4-0 loss in the Ashes tests. Yet the target proved insufficient as Roy hit 16 fours and five sixes in a belligerent knock, his fourth ODI hundred. Roy, who celebrated his century with a leap in the air, reached fifty in 32 balls and gave England a rollicking start in their chase with an opening stand of 53 with Jonny Bairstow in under five overs. England stuttered a bit after fast bowler Mitchell Starc dismissed Roy, with the touring side also losing captain Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler soon after.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 15, 2018 00:56 UTC