Ton-up Eoin gets England off to a flier
Monday, but his prospects of nudging his way into a fullyfiring top seven look slim. Morgan was not there at the end of England’s innings, skying Chris Morris to long-off for 107, his 10th century in these colours. When South Africa replied, Quinton de Kock got frustrated with his score stalling in single figures, edging Chris Woakes behind in the seventh over. But when Hashim Amla is in a flowing mood there are few better sights. He and Faf du Plessis rebuilt to 145. Morgan was to make a significant intervention to break the pair up, though, reviving Mark Wood’s stifled appeal for an lbw with a successful review when Amla was on 73. That put the brakes on the Proteas’ chase. With AB de Villiers still in, South Africa always had a chance but the captain ran out of viable partners, the engine room of JP Duminy, David Miller and Morris failing to fire. He eventually ran out of luck himself, holing out to Liam Plunkett off Ali at long-on.
South Africa were eventually all out for 267 and England had begun what they hope will be a successful Champions Trophy charge. Morgan said: “It was a pretty good day at the office for us. I didn’t play as much in the IPL as I would have liked but I got a few runs in the Ireland game and to continue that here is a good feeling.”
De Villiers said: “England played phenomenally well with the bat in hand. Morgs really dominated with the hundred and manipulated us well.”