On this day in 2019: Eoin Morgan smashes 17 sixes against Afghanistan in an ODI
Since their exit in the 2015 World Cup, England adopted a super-aggressive approach in the limited-overs format. It is best exemplified by their captain who holds a precious record. In ODI cricket, the record for hitting most sixes in an innings belongs to Eoin Morgan. He achieved this milestone on this day i.e 18th June in World Cup 2019.
Morgan played the best innings of his career against Afghanistan, scoring 148 runs in 71 balls with a record 17 sixes and four fours. Apart from him, openers Jonny Bairstow (90) and Joe Root (88) also scored half-centuries as England posted a mammoth total of 397/6. This was England’s highest score in the World Cup as well as the highest score at Old Trafford. Morgan took full advantage of the life-given on 28 runs and shared a partnership of 189 runs for the third wicket with Root. Root and Bairstow also added 120 runs for the second wicket.
England’s innings had 25 sixes, which is also a world record. Earlier, England had hit 24 sixes in an innings against West Indies. A total of 33 sixes were hit in that match, which was a new record in a World Cup match. In reply, Afghanistan’s team could only manage 247 for eight in front of the fine bowling of Adil Rashid (3 for 66), Jofra Archer (3 for 52) and Mark Wood (2 for 40).
For Afghanistan, Hashmatullah Shahidi (76), Rahmat Shah (46), Asghar Afghan (44) and captain Gulbadin Naib (37) played useful innings but could not get the team even close to the target.
Earlier, England won the toss and decided to bat first. Bairstow and James Vince (26) gave the team a cautious start by adding 44 runs for the first wicket. During the innings, Joe Root completed the team’s century of runs in the 20th over with a run off Naib. Later on, Morgan’s flair was seen with two consecutive sixes on Naib.
Morgan completed half-century in just 36 balls with a six. He later completed the fourth fastest century of the World Cup in 57 balls with three sixes in an over. Morgan smashed his 17th six to break the record of most sixes in an ODI by Chris Gayle, Rohit Sharma and AB de Villiers (all 16 sixes). He also became the first batsman in ODI cricket to score more than 100 runs by sixes. The England team scored a mammoth 198 runs in the last 15 overs.
For Afghanistan, Rashid Khan proved to be extremely expensive. He conceded 110 runs in nine overs while he did not get any wicket. This performance of Rashid is the worst performance by a bowler in a World Cup match. He also proved to be the most expensive bowler for Afghanistan in an ODI. 11 sixes were hit against Rashid, which is also a record in a World Cup match.
