Morgan-powered England on hitting record 17 sixes in World Cup win over Afghanistan
The England captain Eoin Morgan broke the record for the number of sixes in a one-day international with an astonishing display of hitting in England's 150-run World Cup 2019 win over Afghanistan.
The England captain Eoin Morgan broke the record for the number of sixes in a one-day international with an astonishing display of hitting in England's 150-run World Cup 2019 win over Afghanistan.
The left-hander Morgan played the perfect captain’s innings against Afghanistan. Where once the phrase meant defiance in the face of adversity, here the message to his England teammates was that it was time to take the aerial route.
The captain hammered 17 sixes in making 148 from 71 balls, his outrageous and audacious ball-striking providing stunning entertainment to an Old Trafford crowd that lapped it up.
The 32-year-old now has 22 sixes in this World Cup, which is already the second highest number of sixes in any edition of the mega event. Morgan went past the previous best of 16, jointly held by Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers and Rohit Sharma.
England’s 25 sixes against Afghanistan is the most ever in ODI cricket, breaking their own record of 24 sixes. 11 out of these were hit against Rashid Khan.
“Never have I thought I could play a knock like that. I’m delighted I have,” said Morgan after the 150-run win. “It makes it a bit more special when I can compete with the youngsters in the side. I’ve become a target for guys because the hundred I scored [from 57 balls] is considered a slow one in our dressing room. It’s a tough school.”
Jonny Bairstow made 90 and Joe Root 88 as the hosts racked up 397-6, their highest total in a World Cup match, bettering the 386-6 they piled on against Bangladesh only 10 days ago.
There was never any danger of Afghanistan even getting close to succeeding in the run-chase and they ended a processional second half of the game on 247-8.
Afghanistan remain rooted to the bottom, having lost all five of their games.
The win lifts England to the top of the 10-team table, ahead of Australia on net run-rate.
Victory against Sri Lanka at Headingley on Friday's will leave Morgan's men on the verge of the semi-finals.
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