Rotation plan key to my ton reveals Malan
DAWID Malan revealed England’s plan to rotate him out of the side for the fifth and final Twenty20 was the catalyst for his belligerent century in the 76-run thumping of New Zealand.
Malan became only the second England batsman after Alex Hales to reach three figures in the sprint format with a sparkling 103 not out from 51 balls, a destructive innings containing nine fours and six sixes.
A stand of 182 alongside captain Eoin Morgan, who was in similarly unforgiving mood towards the Kiwi bowlers as he amassed 91 from 41 deliveries, formed the bedrock of England’s T20-best 241 for three at a balmy Napier. New Zealand subsided to 165 all out after 16.5 overs, with Matt Parkinson taking four for 47, levelling the series at 2-2 and setting up a decider at Eden Park on Sunday.
A giddy Malan afterwards divulged that England’s initial plan would see him make way this weekend although he hopes his threefigure score may prompt a rethink.
He said: “I don’t know if I’m going to actually play (in Auckland), I think I was only due to play four games.
“That’s probably why I chanced my arm such a lot. I thought ‘if this is going to be the last one then I might as well try to make it count.’ Thankfully it came off. A few of the mis-hits went for six and a couple of balls that I mis-hit just landed in gaps so that worked out really well.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling. To have done it in the way I did it was unbelievable and I’m simply speechless about it.
“Hopefully I’ve given Morgs a bit of a headache.”
Malan took 19 runs from his first 18 balls but needed only another 30 to carve his way to a three-figure score. Morgan had earlier needed only 21 deliveries to reach his fifty, the fastest in T20s by an England batsman.