Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Morgan hails the ‘huge character’ of bowler Adil
ENGLAND skipper Eoin Morgan has praised Adil Rashid’s skill and courage after he brought a decisive end to one of the great oneday internationals on Wednesday.
Fans in Grenada witnessed an unforgettable contest as England and the West Indies combined to score 807 runs, 46 sixes and 64 boundaries in a relentless display of power-hitting.
A first-innings score of 418 for six, powered by Jos Buttler’s career-best 150 and Morgan’s fine 103, was ultimately enough for the tourists, but not before some major scares.
The indomitable Chris Gayle heaved his way to 162 and a late rally from all-rounders Carlos Brathwaite and Ashley Nurse threatened too.
The pair needed 32 from 18 balls when Rashid stepped up to bowl the 48th over, with bruising figures of one for 83 from his previous nine.
But the leg-spinner showed laser focus with the game in the balance, removing both set batsmen, as well as Devendra Bishoo and Oshane Thomas in the space of just five balls to spark jubilant celebrations and 29-run win.
“He’s brilliant, it’s one thing making the decision to bring someone on, but to come on and be so calm and produce under pressure is a really brilliant skill,” said Morgan.
“If he takes two wickets it brings us right back in the game and flips it on its head, but to finish the game in that over is really incredible.
“For Adil to come back like that shows a huge amount of character.”
England now hold a 2-1 series lead heading to the final ODI in St Lucia today. Avoiding defeat would allow the tourists to boast a tenth series win in a row, a fine run punctured by their shock loss to Scotland last June.
David Willey and Joe Denly have yet to feature and may be considered as England attempt to keep all of their options open in the run up to this summer’s World Cup.
Checks will also be made on Jason Roy, who missed Wednesday’s runfest after reporting tightness in his left hamstring.
The Surrey opener is due to miss the three Twenty20s which wrap up the tour, returning home for the birth of his first child, and may be given leave to exit early if the hamstring problem has not cleared.