Published: Jan 16, 2015, 12:19 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 16, 2015, 06:22 PM (IST)
By Nishad Pai Vaidya
Jan 16, 2015
Eoin Morgan‘s brilliant century helped England score 234 in the first One-Day International (ODI) against Australia. This is the first game of the tri-series and England were in dire straits at 69 for five. However, Morgan’s well-paced century ensured England put up a competitive score.
Under a new captain, England wanted to shed the old inhibitions. While their captain led from the front, the rest disappointed after he had won the toss and chosen to bat first. England lost wickets in a flurry to start with and that inhibited their innings. Morgan had play with caution for a major part of the innings. Even a flamboyant strokemaker like Joss Buttler hit 28 off as many as 60 balls.
To begin with Mitchell Starc ran through the first two. Ian Bell, coming off an innings of 187 against Prime Minister’s XI, was dismissed leg-before first ball. James Taylor lasted only two balls as he was also dismissed leg-before. Joe Root did not hand around too long and was caught at first slip off Pat Cummins.
Moeen Ali looked good during his stay, particularly when he flicked one for six over long-on. However, he holed out to deep cover on 22, leaving England at 33 for four. Ravi Bopara and Morgan scored at a decent rate before he cut Xavier Doherty to point. At 69 for five, England were in danger of being bowled out for a paltry score.
However, Buttler and Morgan then began knocking it around and they were moving along very calmly. They brought up their fifty run stand in 97 balls. Two flamboyant players had curbed their instincts for a major part. Morgan took the batting powerplay early and got his fifty with a six down the ground. Buttler was dismissed as he found cover.
Morgan continued even as Chris Woakes fell cheaply. But in Chris Jordan, he found a stable partner. With Jordan knocking it around, Morgan could unleash his best strokes. He moved along to a hundred and took England past 200. They put up a fifty partnership in 41 balls. Morgan continued to smash it around until he was dismissed for 121. England were bowled out for 234 as Starc took two more wickets at the death
Brief scores:
England 234 in 47.5 overs (Eoin Morgan 121; Mitchell Starc 4 for 42) vs Australia.
(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a Correspondent with CricketCountry and anchor for the site’s YouTube Channel. His Twitter handle is @nishad_45)
