BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Joe Root finished unbeaten on 138 after Engand was dismissed for 334 on Friday in the third over of the second day of the second Ashes cricket test.
The top-ranked batter in Test cricket posted his first hundred in the Ashes Down Under late on the first day and shared a 70-run last-wicket stand with No. 11 Jofra Archer.
Brendan Doggett took the final wicket in the 14th ball of the day for Australia when Archer hooked and Marnus Labuschagne took a diving one-handed catch at back square. England's innings lasted 76.2 overs.
During his dry spell, Root faced 206 deliveries, his first in four Ashes tours of Australia.
Archer's 38 came off 36 balls, his career-best Test score containing two sixes and two boundaries, including a classic square drive in Mitchell Starc's first over.
England resumed the second day on 325-9 with Root on 135 after posting his long-awaited hundred, giving England first-day honors and a big confidence boost after an eight-wicket defeat in the series opener last month.
Root shared crucial stands of 117 with Zak Crawley (76), 54 with Harry Brook (31) and 70 with Archer.
Starc, who returned 6-75 from 20 overs to extend his series win to 16 wickets, sent the visitors reeling at 5-2 in the third over of the match.
With his third wicket at the Gabba, Starc surpassed Pakistan great Wasim Akram (414 wickets in 104 Tests) as the most successful left-arm fast bowler in Test cricket.
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