England v South Africa, 1st ODI Review - Morgan and Ali propel England to emphatic victory

If fresh cricket lovers are yet to witness a captain’s innings, all they need to do is tune in to a highlights package of Eoin Morgan’s century in Leeds. The cheeky left-handed batsman, who’s known for his tricks and tweaks that bamboozle the best of bowlers, engaged in some wonderful clean striking to power England from an unsteady position. World no.1 South Africa were eventually dominated by a strong Morgan-Ali alliance out in the middle. In the second half, England’s pacers skittled the visitors out, leaving the Proteas 72 runs behind the target.

Along with the players and officials, Headingley stood up for a minute’s silence in memory of those killed in the Manchester terror attack. England though couldn’t move ahead from the solemn note to start as the aggressive Jason Roy perished in the second over. Gifted a full ball pushed across outside off, Roy went for the expansive drive. All the ball did was find the edge straight to the keeper.

While opener Alex Hales took the role of the aggressor, Joe ‘Root’ed himself to the crease, literally. The latter might have seemed to take on the responsibility of not throwing his wicket away, but Root actually struggled. We went through the grind, striking at a mere 72.54, a number that seems snail-like looking through T20 filters. Meanwhile, Hales looked to take off as soon as he got to his fifty – so much so that a brutal smear over long-on damaged the white ball altogether.

The big Englishman’s attempted onslaught was however cut short, as Andile Phehlukwayo struck off his first ball. Gloveman Quinton de Kock was once again in business, the reason being Hales threw his hands at a wide-ish loosener. Skipper Eoin Morgan didn’t see Joe Root at the other end for too long, as he too perished to Phehlukwayo. Root’s rare failure to launch himself into an ODI innings had come to an end. He departed for 37 off 51.

The IPL’s newly crowned MVP then joined his captain, but couldn’t make much of an impression in Headingley either. Jos Buttler added a mere 7 to England’s total, before Moeen Ali walked out to the middle. You know you’re facing one deep batting line-up when a batsman of Moeen Ali’s caliber comes in at no.7 – and if South Africa were unaware of this fact, Ali did what was required to drill it in.

When a 350+ total looked on the cards while Hales was at the crease, England wouldn’t have been a happy bunch finding themselves at 198-5 with just over 15 overs to play. Morgan and Ali though changed the complexion of the game, and how. Suddenly, the fours and sixes began to frequent the overs. Ali pilfered Imran Tahir for 3 biggies in the 45^th, and 300 once again looked achievable.

Meanwhile, Morgan reached his century in Sehwag-esque fashion, connecting a Rabada delivery sweetly to see it sail over long-leg. Chris Morris, the most resilient among South Africa’s bowlers, ensured Morgan didn’t inflict any further damage. At the other end, Moeen Ali wasn’t done yet. He added 20 runs off the final two overs, signing off with a clean six over deep backward square. South Africa loosened up towards the latter half of the innings, and consequently, needed 340 to win.

And the run chase…

Although Quinton de Kock departed early in the chase, Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis countered the English bowlers to put in a 112-run stand. With 145 on the board approaching the halfway mark, the Proteas were on course towards a late flourish and wrap up the game. England’s pacers, however, put the brakes on SA’s innings. Mark Wood and Liam Plunkett removed Amla and du Plessis respectively.

Self-destructive dismissals by JP Duminy and David Miller left AB de Villiers with more than he could chew. South Africa were reduced to 225-7 as de Villiers walked back to the pavilion, knowing all too well that the match had slipped through SA’s hands. England eventually tightened the noose on the visitors’ tail-enders to wrap up the game with a 72-run win. In retrospect, this luxurious margin would have been quite unlikely had the pacers not got the crucial breakthroughs.

Despite a somber start to the game, England would have been mighty pleased to bring smiles to a Headingley crowd, who certainly didn’t have too many reasons to cheer for following the tragic bombing in Manchester. England went one up over the no.1 team in the three-match series, but more importantly, cricket had partly healed the memories of an entire nation in mourning.

Brief Scores:

England 339/6 in 50 overs (Morgan 107, Ali 77*, Phelukwayo 2/59, Morris 2/61)

South Africa 267/10 in 45 overs (Amla 73, Du Plessis 67, Woakes 4/38, Ali 2/50)

Check full scorecard here.