Joe Rootplays decisive innings again as Jos Buttler’s team triumph in England warm-up match

Joe Root was in the runs again as Team Buttler beat Team Morgan for the second time in England’s intra-squad Twenty20 match in Paarl on Monday.

Root made an unbeaten 45 from 26 deliveries in the company of Sam Curran, who smashed 45 not out from 18 balls. 

Moeen Ali made a fighting 41 from 40 balls to rescue Team Morgan from 95 for eight to 139 for nine after Olly Stone had taken three for 12 to rip out the top order. Stone was the pick of the bowlers but, like Root, he is not in the T20 squad.

Joe Root was in the runs again as Team Buttler beat Team Morgan for the second time 

Sam Curran (left) bumps fists with brother Tom following the warm-up match in Paari

Wood took out Malan and Root, both trying and failing to clear mid-off, and later Sam Curran, while Curran’s miserly consistency kept the rate down and the wickets column ticking.

Jofra Archer kicked off the reply with a maiden to Jonny Bairstow and soon had Tom Banton caught behind, setting the tone perfectly. After 15 the entire top four was gone with the score on 66 – Bairstow edging Sam Curran, Stokes holing out to one of Root’s off-breaks and Chris Jordan getting Morgan with his first delivery.

Chris Woakes (55) and Tom Curran revived their side with an 80-run stand for the seventh wicket but were unable to push it any further. Curran was caught and bowled by the impressive Olly Stone, with Woakes stumped charging Adil Rashid.

Lewis Gregory ended things with two wickets in the final over, leaving Team Morgan 205 all out with 25 balls unbowled.