Joe Root struck his maiden one-day international score of over 150 as England beat the West Indies by three wickets in Cardiff on Sunday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in a three-match series. England were faltering at 2-2, chasing 309 for victory, after both Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett were out for ducks at Sophia Gardens. But star batsman Root`s 166 not out saw England finish on 312-7 as they won with seven balls to spare ahead of Tuesday`s finale at the Oval, despite West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph`s fine return of 4-31 from his maximum 10 overs. 

Root received good support from England captain Harry Brook (47) -- a series winner in his first campaign as permanent white-ball skipper -- in a stand of 85. Will Jacks (49) then helped Root add 143 in 20 overs during a sixth-wicket partnership that took England to the brink of victory. This match also saw Root become England`s leading ODI run-scorer, his tally of 7,082 runs in 168 innings surpassing retired World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan`s mark of 6,957 in 207. "From being 2-2, it was nice to be there at the end and get us across the line, winning the series with one game to go," said player-of-the-match Root at the presentation ceremony.

`Amazing`

Meanwhile an elated Brook said: "Root -- he is only getting better with age is that boy! It is amazing to have him in the side." The West Indies were much-improved with both bat and ball following their humiliating 238-run loss at Edgbaston on Thursday, where England made exactly 400. But despite the in-form Keacy Carty`s 103 they were ultimately made to pay for not compiling a truly huge total when well-placed on 205-2 at Sophia Gardens. "With the position we were in around that 35-over mark, we should have put on 30 to 40 more runs at least," said West Indies captain Shai Hope.