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Didn’t think I could produce innings like that: Eoin Morgan on his breezy ton

Morgan suffered from a back spasm in the previous game against West Indies but the injury didn’t seem to bother the English captain during his record-shattering 17 sixes in his knock of 148 to help England post a mammoth total of 397 for 6 on Tuesday.

Didn’t think I could produce innings like that: Eoin Morgan on his breezy ton

England skipper Eoin Morgan celebrates his century during the 24th match of 2019 World Cup between England and Afghanistan at Old Trafford in Manchester, England on June 18, 2019. (Photo Credit: Twitter/@ICC)

England skipper Eoin Morgan was at his very best against Afghanistan as he scored the fourth fastest World Cup century. Riding on Morgan’s brisk ton, England thumped Afghanistan by 150 runs at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester.

Morgan suffered from a back spasm in the previous game against West Indies but the injury didn’t seem to bother the English captain during his record-shattering 17 sixes in his knock of 148 to help England post a mammoth total of 397 for 6 on Tuesday.

Afghanistan, who were never in the hunt, came out with a decent batting performance, managing 247 for 8 in their full quota of 50 overs.

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Morgan, who bagged the Player of the Match award for his pyrotechnics, said that everything went England’s way from the start in Manchester.

“Today was fantastic for us. The wicket was very good. I thought everything from the way we started – our openers started well. (Jonny) Bairstow and (Joe) Root were excellent, and then we just took a gamble and it paid off,” said Morgan at the post-match presentation ceremony.

“I didn’t really think it was going to be my day at any point to be honest. I’ve had a bad back and it looks like I’m getting old. There are many guys in the dressing room and who can produce an innings like that – but to match up to the youngsters is amazing. I didn’t think I could produce an innings like that, honestly,” added the 32-year-old.

During the course of his 71-ball innings, Morgan went past 200 sixes in ODIs and raced away to his 13th ODI hundred and his first in a World Cup.

The England skipper also revealed that he has brought in some changes to his game which are paying dividends for him.

“I have changed in terms of my game – everyone plays the shots I started my career with – the scoops and the sweeps, etc. However, right now, I’m stronger down the ground than I have ever been, and life seems to have come full circle that way, because cricket has evolved in a way that there are fields that the oppositions set for those funky shots now.”

With the win, England – who are among the tournament favourites – are now at the top of the table with eight points from five games. They will face Sri Lanka (21 June), Australia (25 June), India (30 June) and New Zealand (3 July) next.

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