Six-hitting spectacular from Morgan
CRICKET CHRIS OSTICK IT was always going to take something special to match the spectacle of Sunday’s World Cup showdown between India and Pakistan at Old Trafford, but England skipper Eoin Morgan produced it.
When Jonny Bairstow was caught and bowled by Afghanistan’s Gulbadin Naib for 90 with England on 164-2, most of the crowd were expecting big-hitting Lancashire ace Jos Buttler to come striding to the crease for 20 overs of carnage.
So there was disappointment from some of the crowd when Morgan walked out to the middle to join Joe Root.
A stunning world record 17 sixes and 148 runs later, he walked off to a standing ovation from the Old Trafford crowd, who had witnessed a piece of cricket history.
Morgan’s brutal annihilation of the Afghan attack came off just 71 balls, and saw him break the world record for the most sixes in a one-day international innings.
England’s tally of 25 maximums is another world record, while their final total of 397-6 is the highest in an ODI at Old Trafford and the Three Lions’ biggest in a World Cup match.
In his 189-run partnership with Root - an World Cup record for England – the Test skipper contributed just 43. It was brutal. And Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan, who before the game was seen as their major threat as he tops the ODI spin rankings, was dispatched for 110 runs from his nine overs - a World Cup record. Eleven of Morgan’s sixes came off his bowling.
He would be thankful that Afghanistan’s President, who watched on from the pavilion for the first two hours of the game, had left before the onslaught began.
Morgan’s innings was even more ●● Eoin Morgan remarkable considering he had a late fitness test on the morning of the game on the back problem which forced him from the field in England’s win over the West Indies.
“I never thought in my wildest dreams I’d produce an innings like that,” said Morgan, who revealed he had taken pain killers ahead of the game.
“It was a special day. It was a toss up between me and Jos going in, so I knew I had to get on with it.”
Morgan, who was dropped while in the 20s, overshadowed a brilliant knock from Bairstow who, with his Yorkshire team-mate Root, put on 120 for the second wicket after a careful start from England.
Afghanistan, to their credit, had a go in their reply. They were never going to win, but they didn’t roll over either and in the end posted their own highest ODI total of 247-8 on what is a belter of a pitch, smashing eight sixes of their own.
Hashmatullah Shahidi recovered from a nasty blow on the head from a Mark Wood delivery to score 76 and they batted out 50 overs for the first time in the tournament. England are now top of the table after the 150-run win and will be hoping to return to the ground for a semi-final. Maybe then, Morgan will be fully fit!