-Eoin Morgan played the innings of his life perhaps on Tuesday when England locked horns against Afghanistan. Hosts were obviously the loved ones and they surely were looking a strong and balanced side in front of Afghanistan, who surely have played some good cricket in their qualifiers but, they must now have understood that playing in the major league like World Cup is surely a different ball game.
Hosts won the toss and elected to bat first and then the fireworks began in Manchester and the head of this wing was none other than the English captain Eoin Morgan. He absolutely played a gem of an innings. His 71 balls 148 was a delight to watch. An old vintage Morgan is back, and as the tournament is heading into its business end, England’s every match winner has a performance under his belt. This innings by the English captain shattered the records of most sixes in an innings, hitting 17 and breaking previous best of Rohit Sharma of 16. Morgan also scored a 4th fastest century in the world cup. He got a lifeline once though, to the bowling of Rashid Khan courtesy to Zardan who dropped his catch when he was batting on 29, but after that, there was no looking back. England was 198 at the end of 35th over a loss of 2 wickets and then cracked 198 runs of remaining 15.
Morgan innings was a showcase of some textbook cricketing shots and everything in that innings felt so pure and pristine. This particular inning expressed the face of English cricket that has now turned to a bold and fearless approach after the 2015 World Cup exit. The craft of this innings can be rated as one of the best ever played by an Englishman. His wagon wheel when observed, he played most of the shots in “V” and there was nothing behind the square of the wicket or behind point just one reverse sweep to pay the homage. He kept his base strong and played every ball as per its merit.
With this innings, he has made a statement for himself that he is not just a good captain who will just set the fields, but he is leading his side from the front. And with this innings, he has found the right tone. England team with Bairstow and Butler carrying there IPL form and Root getting his class act together, this team is surely in a mood of doing something nasty, we can say.
Morgan was in trouble with his back spasm and was off the field early. And then was standing in the post-match show where he quoted “never I have ever thought I could play a knock like that”.
This though was his chance to shine. The man who has given so much to English cricket by encouraging and cultivating his fellow mates and set a new high standard for himself and the English Cricket.
