England skipper Morgan overwhelmed by record-smashing 17 maximums against Afghanistan; says never thought he could play a knock like that
Eoin Morgan celebrates his century v Afghans on Tuesday. Pic/AFP
Manchester: England skipper Eoin Morgan, who smashed a world record 17 sixes in his side's 150-run crushing of Afghanistan in a World Cup game, said he never thought a knock like that could come from his bat.
Morgan blasted an incredible 17 sixes — the most in ODI history — during his game-changing knock of 148 at Old Trafford on Tuesday, breaking the previous record of 16 held jointly by AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle and Rohit Sharma.
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His knock helped England post 397-6 — their highest in any World Cup — and they eventually recorded a 150-run triumph to return to the top of the table. "Never have I ever thought I could play a knock like that but I'm delighted that I have. It's weird. It's very strange to have that sixes record. It's something, along with the innings, I never thought I'd do. It's a nice place to be," he said after the match.
"The last four years, I've probably played the best in my career but that hasn't involved a 50 or 60-ball hundred. I thought I would have it in the locker somewhere but it's never happened, so I sort of gave up on it a little bit," he added.
Morgan brought up his century off 57 balls, although that was 11 slower than Jos Buttler's England record of 46 deliveries against Pakistan in 2015 — meaning the skipper does not have complete ownership of bragging rights. That was why he said his England teammates still won't be impressed by the six-hitting feat.
"I think I'm probably just becoming a target for the guys in the changing room to take down. The hundred I scored is considered a slow one in our changing room — guys talk about it all the time. So it's a tough school!" Morgan said in lighter vein.
"When I came to the crease, it was a 50-50 shout whether myself or Jos [Buttler] went in and that probably helped because after I faced a few balls, I had no choice. I had to start taking risks because of him coming in next and then after I got dropped [on 28], it was a matter of just keep going. It was one of those days."
Morgan struggled with back spasms during the last game against West Indies and had to face a late fitness test in order to play against Afghanistan.
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