Captain Eoin Morgan relieved at hitting form in ‘shocking’ conditions to help England to the brink of the T20 World Cup semi-finals
- Eoin Morgan cut a relieved figure after England’s 26-run win over Sri Lanka
- The England skipper shared a match-defining stand of 112 with Jos Buttler
- Morgan’s innings of 40 off 36 balls was his highest T20 knock in 15 innings
Eoin Morgan cut a relieved figure after England’s 26-run win over Sri Lanka in Sharjah — not just because the result took his side to the brink of the T20 World Cup semi-finals, but because he had finally contributed with the bat.
Amid the bouquets thrown Jos Buttler’s way after his unbeaten century, it was easy to downplay his captain’s contribution in conditions which Morgan said were ‘as hard as we’ve faced’.
His innings of 40 off 36 balls, having scratched his way initially to 10 off 21, was the game’s second-highest score and part of a match-defining stand of 112 in 13 overs with Buttler. It was also Morgan’s highest T20 knock for England in 15 innings.
England captain Eoin Morgan shared a match-defining stand of 112 in 13 overs with Jos Buttler
‘We’re thankful we hung in and trusted in our experience,’ said Morgan. ‘Even Jos, who’s in unbelievable form, found it tough. It was shocking, but we just had nowhere to go, and it was better than slogging it up in the air.
‘But it’s runs on the board, it’s a contribution to winning the game. Without Jos’s unbelievable knock, we’d have been nowhere.’
Meanwhile, fast bowler Tymal Mills will undergo a scan on a tight right quad after he left the field on Monday during his second over. England want to know the extent of his injury before deciding if they will replace him in the squad.