Tue | Jul 16, 2019

Records for Morgan, England against Afghans

Published:Wednesday | June 19, 2019 | 12:08 AM
England’s captain Eoin Morgan during the ICC World Cup match against Afghanistan at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, yesterday.
AP
England’s captain Eoin Morgan during the ICC World Cup match against Afghanistan at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, yesterday.

MANCHESTER, England (AP):

Eoin Morgan came out swinging in an innings that started with an awkward-looking tangle involving his opposing captain, and ended with a world-record clutter of sixes.

The England captain’s 148 from 71 balls against Afghanistan yesterday contained 17 sixes and launched the home team to 397-6, the sixth-highest total at an ICC World Cup and the biggest so far of this tournament.

Moeen Ali ensured a team record for a one-day international, too. He cleared the boundary four times in an unbeaten, nine-ball 31 to improve England’s own mark to a world record 25 sixes.

The group game between the highest- and lowest-ranked teams was barely a contest, with Afghanistan finishing 247-8 to slump to their fifth consecutive defeat.

England moved to the top of the standings on eight points, ahead of defending champion Australia on net run-rate. There was also a positive outcome for Afghanistan, with the total surpassing its 232 against Sri Lanka in Dunedin four years ago as their highest at a World Cup.