CRICKET: EOIN MORGAN enjoyed an eventful, seven-ball debut as an England player yesterday as he hit the winning run to wrap up an all-too-easy, six-wicket victory over West Indies at Bristol.
Batting at number six, the 22-year-old Dubliner got to the wicket with England needing just four runs to win and with almost 16 overs to get them. He opened his account off his first delivery, flicking Darren Sammy off his legs for a single.
Paul Collingwood got England within a run of their target of 161, leaving Morgan to face tall left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn. A dot ball was followed by a lucky escape after wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin fumbled a straightforward stumping opportunity after Morgan charged down the wicket.
After blocking three more deliveries, the left-hander secured the victory with another nudge off his legs, with Collingwood finishing unbeaten on 47 to give England a 1-0 lead ahead of tomorrow’s final match in the series at Edgbaston.
Collingwood also performed with the ball, taking three wickets for 16, including that of Dwayne Bravo after he had made 50. The Windies were eventually bowled out for just 160, with Stuart Broad the other key performer with the ball, taking four wickets for 46.
Elsewhere, it was a day of mixed emotions for Morgan’s former Ireland team-mate Trent Johnston as his century helped Railway Union book a place in the Dublin Grass Machinery League final in a convincing 114-run win over YMCA.
The bad news came soon after the end of play at Claremont Road when the fervent Newcastle United fan learned that the Magpies had failed to stay in the Premier League.
Johnston, who departs tomorrow for Ireland’s warm-up programme ahead of next month’s Twenty20 World Cup, showed he’s in fine touch as he clubbed seven sixes and six fours as he made 119 off just 92 deliveries.
It helped Railway post an imposing total of 277, with Tom Fisher (56), Kenny Carroll (56) and Mohammed Tariq (31) all getting in on the act.
YM stumbled early in their reply, with only Australian professional James Parkinson’s 47 and 30 from Rob Nandi offering any resistance as the home side were bowled out for 163 in the 32nd over.
Trinidadian spinner Magnum Nanan was the pick of the Railway bowlers with three for 34 off eight overs, while Saad Ullah also claimed three at a cost of 44.
Another West Indian who enjoyed the warm weather was Leinster’s Carlos Brathwaite, who starred with both bat and ball as his side booked a final spot with a comprehensive, 132-run victory over Pembroke at Sydney Parade.
The 20-year-old from Barbados hit 63 in Leinster’s 265, while skipper Anton Scholtz (73) and Mark Jones (49) also chipped in. Brathwaite then took the new ball and removed five home batsmen, while Scholtz claimed three scalps as Pembroke were out for 133.
Meanwhile, the Irish women’s team get a busy week of international cricket under way at Milverton in Skerries today, when they play Pakistan in a Twenty20 clash, starting at 4.30pm.
Merrion’s Heather Whelan returns to captain the side, who also play Pakistan in a One Day at Castle Avenue tomorrow.
The sides will be then be joined by a team from Nottinghamshire for the RSA Twenty20 Challenge, at Malahide (Thursday) and Rathmines (Friday).
