Roy powers England to series win
Opener celebrates 100th ODI with 73 against Netherlands Morgan fails again but Salt makes 77 in six-wicket victory
Just for a few fleeting moments, as the ball gripped and turned under the late evening sun, the Netherlands could dream of a maiden oneday international victory over England. Yet the flurry of three wickets falling for nine runs to spin against a backdrop of Abba tunes blaring out at the VRA Ground proved a mere bizarre interlude in England’s six-wicket victory to seal the series.
In the last throes of England’s chase of 236 in a match reduced to 41 overs by overnight rain, the news dropped that Pieter Seelaar, the Netherlands captain, had retired because of the longstanding back injury that led him to miss this match.
It was also a mixed day for his opposite number, Eoin Morgan, whose second consecutive duck this tour – this time, top-edging a hoick off Tom Cooper’s part-time off-spin – added to simmering concerns about his form. It has now been 353 days since Morgan’s last half-century in any format of the game. While he is still likely to lead England in this year’s Twenty20 World Cup in Australia in October, the balance of probability is that, barring one of his trademark dramatic reversals of form, Morgan will not lead England for their ODI World Cup defence in India in 16 months.
Phil Salt’s 77 off 54 balls, following his century on Friday, was another illustration of England’s batting depth. Salt shared a 139-run opening stand with Jason Roy, who marked his 100th ODI with a powerful 73 that led to him being named player of the match.
“It’s an incredible feeling – whether I got 70 or nought today would have been a special day,” said Roy, whose wife and daughter were there to see him presented with a
commemorative cap by Mooen Ali, though the two had to fly back before seeing him bat. “To be involved with a team like this for 100 games is ridiculous.”
It was the first time that Roy had spoken since receiving a two-match suspended ban and a fine by the England and Wales Cricket Board for an unnamed offence.
“Unfortunately I can’t talk anything about it but it’s not been spoken about since it all came out,” Roy said. “So I was able to enjoy my training, my family time and enjoy
normal life for a couple of months.” Roy said that he struggled mentally earlier this year, particularly in the Pakistan Super League in February, and needed a break from the game. He has not played any County Championship games for Surrey this season but has played a full part in their T20 Blast campaign.
“Things mentally weren’t right with me at the PSL. I was in a weird place because I was playing good cricket but I wasn’t enjoying myself, I wasn’t happy and it was just a dark time. It was just a good two months
to come home and live a normal life for a bit after a tough couple of years,” he said.
In a curious sense it was fitting that Roy did not put the seal on his 100th cap with a century: the allure of personal milestones have never impacted his approach. His value to England was never greater than in the 2019 World Cup. Roy missed three games with a hamstring injury; England lost two, and then rushed him back when they needed to win four consecutive matches to win the tournament. His powerful early hitting against India next game immediately reinvigorated England’s faltering campaign.
In the early stage of the Netherlands innings it seemed as if England would scarcely need Roy. When Brydon Carse, who generated notable pace and bounce, trapped Cooper lbw, the Netherlands were 36 for three in the 10th over.
But stand-in captain Scott Edwards, pulling the seamers in front of square and sweeping – and reverse-sweeping – the spinners, scored 78 to haul the Netherlands up to 235 for seven.
It was Edwards’s sixth half-century in 11 ODIS this year, all against Test members, and sets him up well for his new probable role as longterm captain. Had he not been run out by a fine direct hit from David Willey, Edwards might even have been able to make England’s later collapse more costly.