Highlights, England vs Afghanistan, ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, Full Cricket Score: Eoin Morgan's men clinch 150-run victory

Eoin Morgan, Man of the Match for 71-ball 148

Morgan: Fantastic day for us. The wicket was very good. Afghanistan bowled well with both bat and ball at the start. Good day all around. Did not think I could produce an innings like that. It makes it more special when I compete with youngsters in the side. It was a special day. It started off as a tough game. With their spinners, it is a completely different challenge.

Largest wins for England by runs in ICC World Cups:

202 v India, Lord’s, 1975

196 v East Africa, Birmingham, 1975
 

150 v Afghanistan, Manchester, 2019*

After 50 overs,Afghanistan 247/8 ( Ikram Ali Khil (W) 3 , Dawlat Zadran 0)

ENGLAND WIN BY 150 RUNS. They go to top of the points table.

Afghanistan batted all the overs, which is a moral victory for them. It was the day of batters as Morgan, Root, Bairstow had fun in the middle. Then Shahidi and Asghar gave a little to cheer to the Afghan fans in the middle. It was never a contest from the start, to be honest.

After 49 overs,Afghanistan 246/7 ( Rashid Khan 8 , Ikram Ali Khil (W) 3)

Mark Wood was very good today. Finishes with figures of 2/40. A round of applause for him as he takes his cap from umpire and walks to his fielding position. Last over to go.

After 48 overs,Afghanistan 239/7 ( Rashid Khan 2 , Ikram Ali Khil (W) 2)

Archer using variations to good effect. Bouncing out the batsman on one occasion and then using slower one to great effect. Rashid has been trying to get out but he is unlucky on that front. Seems like Afghanistan will play the full 50 overs.

After 47 overs,Afghanistan 235/7 ( Rashid Khan 0 , Ikram Ali Khil (W) 1)

A single line of thought does not travel across the Afghanistan batting line-up for sure. Till Asghar came to bat, they were looking to play the full overs. Asghar and Shahidi began playing shots and then they continued to play risky shots and lost wickets. Rashid in 47th over, slogging blindly.

After 46 overs,Afghanistan 234/6 ( Najibullah Zadran 15 , Rashid Khan 0)

Archer comes back on. And we see a knuckle ball from the new England pacer. Such a young age and he has so many deliveries up his sleeve. Shahidi smashes him for four on the fourth ball and then Archer returns to clean him up. Shahidi scored 76 off 100. The dream comes to an end for him. Now Afghanistan inching closer to the big loss.

After 45 overs,Afghanistan 227/5 ( Hashmatullah Shahidi 71 , Najibullah Zadran 13)

Shahidi moves into 90s. And now this match is all about him and the potential 100 within his reach. Five off the over. Afghanistan need 171 runs in 30 balls. Shahidi needs 29 for his 100.

After 44 overs,Afghanistan 222/5 ( Hashmatullah Shahidi 69 , Najibullah Zadran 10)

Now another way to get a little excited about this match is to see if Shahidi can get a hundred here. He is playing his shots. 36 balls remaining and he needs 31 runs. Would be a great day for him even if his team ends up as the losing side. Afghanistan need 176 runs in 36 balls

After 43 overs,Afghanistan 212/5 ( Hashmatullah Shahidi 67 , Najibullah Zadran 2)

Nabi has gone. He was just looking to hit every ball out of the park. The idea should have been to spend some time there and get some match practice. Najibullah Zadran joins Shahidi in the middle and he starts his innings with a reverse sweep. Next ball he tries it again bt misses it completely. England appeal for catch behind the stumps. Umpire turns it down. Morgan goes upstairs but decision is not overturned. Afghanistan need 186 runs in 42 balls.

After 42 overs,Afghanistan 208/4 ( Hashmatullah Shahidi 66 , Mohammad Nabi 8)

Shahidi is somehow still there, managing to place the ball right in front of the fielders. This time it just bounced ahead of Wood at mid-off. Afghanistan need 190 runs in 48 balls.

After 41 overs,Afghanistan 204/4 ( Hashmatullah Shahidi 64 , Mohammad Nabi 6)

Rashid has taken the second wicket and he is clearly the better Rashid today already. Afghan’s effort has been curtailed. He made 44 off 48. Nabi comes in to bat, starts off with a six. Afghanistan need 194 runs in 54 balls.

After 40 overs,Afghanistan 196/3 ( Hashmatullah Shahidi 63 , Asghar Afghan 43)

Woakes continues. Clearly, Morgan wants to try his best bowlers to get the wickets. Woakes tries a slower one upfront. Beat Shahidi all ends with that. Four short of 200 Afghanistan. The final powerplay will begin from next over. Afghanistan need 202 runs in 60 balls.

After 39 overs,Afghanistan 194/3 ( Hashmatullah Shahidi 62 , Asghar Afghan 42)

Morgan may try Root here if his back is fine. He does not come with great reputation as a spinner and Afghanistan batters may try to go after them. Less pace means more power needed to play big shots. For now Afghan and Shahidi having no trouble. Afghanistan need 204 runs in 66 balls.

After 38 overs,Afghanistan 188/3 ( Hashmatullah Shahidi 57 , Asghar Afghan 41)

Alright, so Morgan brings his another pacer into the attack, Chris Woakes. Afghan approaching a fine fifty as well. Afghanistan need 210. Just 3 off the over.

After 37 overs,Afghanistan 185/3 ( Hashmatullah Shahidi 56 , Asghar Afghan 39)

Afghanistan continues to have fun. No other way to describe this stint by Shahidi and Asghar. Their effort is showing England that any better side than them can make a match out of it on this batting track, creating doubts about his team’s bowling in Morgan’s mind. Afghanistan need 213 runs in 78 balls.

After 36 overs,Afghanistan 180/3 ( Hashmatullah Shahidi 56 , Asghar Afghan 34)

Morgan and England’s frustration coming to the fore now. Morgan is still at short leg, Archer bowling bouncer, Shahidi clearing his front leg on one occasion to hit it to leg side. The ball was too high and was called wide. Archer bowled another one at Shahidi’s hips and he guided it for four, adding more to the frustration. Afghanistan need 218 runs in 84 balls.

After 35 overs,Afghanistan 172/3 ( Hashmatullah Shahidi 52 , Asghar Afghan 31)

A stumping chance of Asghar, umpires goes up tairs. The camera shows Asghar softly punching Shahidi’s chest as the stumping is being checked as if he is telling Shahidi to keep doing what he is doing and not be perturbed. Shahidi completes a fifty. Second half-century in the tournament. Afghanistan need 226 runs in 90 balls.

After 34 overs,Afghanistan 160/3 ( Hashmatullah Shahidi 45 , Asghar Afghan 29)

This might still not be any contest but we can sense battle of egos here. Morgan brings Archer back. Afghan still not holding back, heaves him away for four runs and then again attempts a pull shot. He is batting as if he is giving an answer for that short ball to Shahidi, his younger teammate. Afghanistan need 238 runs in 96 balls.