England pile 414 runs vs South Africa; Joe Root's heartfelt gesture steals the show - Watch

Joe Root's century and heartwarming gesture of gifting his batting gloves to a young fan stole the show during England's match against South Africa. Jacob Bethell's maiden international century and Jos Buttler's explosive innings further contributed to England's impressive 414-5 total.

Joe Root of England celebrates (Photo by Philip Brown/Getty Images)

Joe Root’s century against South Africa was a treat for England fans, but what he did after getting out stole the show. Walking back after being dismissed for exactly 100 by Corbin Bosch, Root noticed a little boy in the stands. Instead of just heading straight to the pavilion, he stopped, smiled, and handed over his batting gloves. The young fan’s stunned expression quickly turned into the biggest grin, a moment that said more than runs ever could. Watch the video.

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On the field, Root had been all class once again. His perfectly paced innings was his 19th ODI hundred and gave England a strong base. Alongside him, 21-year-old Jacob Bethell lit up the day with his maiden international century. Bethell’s 110, full of crisp drives and powerful hits, showed why he is being talked about as one of England’s brightest prospects. Together, the pair stitched a 182-run stand that left South Africa chasing leather.

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Joe Root's consistency Jacob Bethell's potential Jos Buttler's power hitting

Then came Jos Buttler with the finishing act. The veteran hammered an unbeaten 62 from just 32 balls, lifting the total to a mammoth 414-5. It was the perfect blend of experience, youth, and raw hitting power. That total also put England in elite company. It was their seventh 400-plus score in Men’s ODIs, a list topped only by South Africa with eight. India are level with England on seven, while Australia (3), New Zealand (2), Sri Lanka (2) and Zimbabwe (1) complete the list. But even with the mountain of runs, it was Root’s quiet, heartfelt gesture that became the moment of the day. For that young supporter, the match will forever be remembered not just for centuries scored, but for the priceless gift of Joe Root’s gloves.

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