English cricketer Joe Root created a top fielding record during the second semi-final of the ongoing 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. During this match, Root broke Ricky Ponting‘s record of most catches in a single CWC edition.
On Thursday (11th July), Australia and England have met in the second semi-final of this tournament at Birmingham. After winning the toss, Australia decided to bat first but struggled from the beginning. Finally, the defending champions Australia were bundled out for 223 runs in 49 overs.
During that innings, Root achieved his historic feat. On the 37.4 overs of the first innings, Root took a catch at the first slip to dismiss Pat Cummins. It was his 12th catch in the ongoing 2019 CWC. As a non-wicketkeeper, the previous record of most catches in a CWC edition was 11 by the former Australian captain Ricky Ponting in 2003 CWC.
South African captain Faf du Plessis also took ten catches in this 2019 CWC. Meanwhile, another English cricketer Jonny Bairstow is also chasing them as he has taken nine catches in the ongoing 2019 CWC. Like Root, Bairstow also took one catch in the second semi-final of the ongoing CWC.
Joe Root is also holding the record of second-most catches as a non-wicketkeeper in CWC history
On the other hand, Joe Root has taken a total of 19 catches in his Cricket World Cup career. It is the second most catches for a non-wicketkeeper in CWC career. Taking a catch in this semi-final, Root surpassed the former Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya who took 18 CWC catches. Once again the former Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting is holding this record as he took 28 CWC catches.
For England, the second most CWC catches record is 13 by the former cricketer Paul Collingwood.
Coming to this semi-final match, England bowlers were very tight from the beginning. The pacer Chris Woakes was the best bowler for England as he had the bowling figures of 8-0-20-3. The leg-spinner Adil Rashid also took three wickets and his bowling figures were 10-0-54-3. Jofra Archer (2/32) and Mark Wood (1/45) were the other English bowlers to pick up wickets in that innings.
Among the Australian batsmen, only Steven Smith (85 runs) and Alex Carey (46 runs) crossed the 30-run mark.