AFP, Manchester :
England captain Eoin Morgan said he was playing “better than ever” as he led from the front in a five-wicket win over Pakistan in the second Twenty20 international at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Morgan came in on a hat-trick after leg-spinner Shadab Khan had reduced England, who were chasing a stiff victory target of 196, to 66-2.
But the Irishman made a blistering 66 off just 33 balls and with fellow left-hander Dawid Malan (54 not out) took the game away from Pakistan during a third-wicket stand of 112. Victory, achieved with five balls to spare on a sunny afternoon, saw the 50-over world champions go 1-0 up in a three-match series following Friday’s rain-marred no result in Manchester. The 33-year-old Morgan considered his international future after leading England to World Cup glory with a dramatic Super Over win in last year’s final at Lord’s.
But it now looks as if he will lead England at the 2021 T20 World Cup in India.
Asked if he was playing better than ever, Morgan told Sky Sports: “I think I am and that is backed up by stats over the last couple of years, they’ve been the most productive of my whole career which is great.
“If I can combine a little of that form with experience, then hopefully it will contribute to more wins,” the player of the match added. This was the highest successful chase against Pakistan in a Twenty20 international, surpassing Australia’s 199-7 in a thrilling 2010 World Twenty20 semi-final in St Lucia. Veteran batsman Mohammad Hafeez made 69 in Pakistan’s 195-4 that also featured 56 from captain Babar Azam, the world’s number one-ranked Twenty20 batsman.
England captain Eoin Morgan said he was playing “better than ever” as he led from the front in a five-wicket win over Pakistan in the second Twenty20 international at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Morgan came in on a hat-trick after leg-spinner Shadab Khan had reduced England, who were chasing a stiff victory target of 196, to 66-2.
But the Irishman made a blistering 66 off just 33 balls and with fellow left-hander Dawid Malan (54 not out) took the game away from Pakistan during a third-wicket stand of 112. Victory, achieved with five balls to spare on a sunny afternoon, saw the 50-over world champions go 1-0 up in a three-match series following Friday’s rain-marred no result in Manchester. The 33-year-old Morgan considered his international future after leading England to World Cup glory with a dramatic Super Over win in last year’s final at Lord’s.
But it now looks as if he will lead England at the 2021 T20 World Cup in India.
Asked if he was playing better than ever, Morgan told Sky Sports: “I think I am and that is backed up by stats over the last couple of years, they’ve been the most productive of my whole career which is great.
“If I can combine a little of that form with experience, then hopefully it will contribute to more wins,” the player of the match added. This was the highest successful chase against Pakistan in a Twenty20 international, surpassing Australia’s 199-7 in a thrilling 2010 World Twenty20 semi-final in St Lucia. Veteran batsman Mohammad Hafeez made 69 in Pakistan’s 195-4 that also featured 56 from captain Babar Azam, the world’s number one-ranked Twenty20 batsman.
