CAPTON MARVEL
Morgan’s 107 leads run-fest as England crush world’s best
EOIN MORGAN stamped his authority all over England’s one-day side with his third scintillating hundred of the year.
And it was enough to see England to a 72-run win over No.1-ranked South Africa, who started brightly in their hunt for 340, but came unstuck as wickets fell.
With the Champions Trophy starting in a week, Morgan’s 107 at Headingley was even more important than the tons he grabbed in India and the West Indies.
Morgan registered his 10th one-day hundred for England and put them 1-0 up in the three-match series.
His knock, together with a turbo-charged 77 not out from Moeen Ali, was just the sort of confidenceboosting batting the side were looking for.
Alex Hales delivered 61 at the top of the order, while Ben Stokes played one outrageously dismissive shot for six straight back over the head of Kagiso Rabada, the fastest bowler on either side.
Batting has long been England’s strongest suit and, if they have serious designs on taking this series and the Champions Trophy to follow, then their bowling has to match it.
Up against the No.1 team in the world, they showed why they are so many people’s favourites for the title as the bowlers stepped up to the mark with the ball led by Chris Woakes’ 4-38.
Woakes struck first with the wicket of the dangerous Quinton de Kock for just five, but Morgan can take a bit of credit for it too.
De Kock loves to get away to a fast start and he would have done just that, had it not been for a flying, diving stop by Morgan in the covers. It frustrated De Cock and led to his skying Woakes high for Jos Buttler to catch.
Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis added 112 together without too much fuss on a belter of a pitch but, just when England needed a partnership breaker, Mark Wood showed why his return could be the final piece in the jigsaw.
His extra pace hurried Amla and the lbw on review sparked the collapse that left AB de Villiers as the sole aggressor, until he too was caught in the deep.