England captain Eoin Morgan’s 148 helped his side set up a 150-run win against Afghanistan at Old Trafford.
England showed their full top-order batting prowess by posting 397-6, which was also the highest-ever World Cup score.
Their captain Morgan was sensational and scored a breathtaking 71-ball 148, which included him setting the fourth-fastest century in a World Cup innings. He also hit 17 sixes, the most in an ODI innings.
Morgan did, however, get some help from teammates Jonny Bairstow (90) and Joe Root (88) before he was dismissed with his side on 359 after 47 overs.
Moeen Ali tipped the team within three runs of 400. He hit one four and four sixes for his nine-ball 31 which saw England rack up 25 sixes as a team, the most ever in an ODI innings.
Rashid Khan, who is considered one of the most dangerous spinners in the world, conceded 0-110 in nine overs, the most conceded by any bowler. He also recorded the worst-ever economy rate in an ODI (12.22).
Afghanistan batted with pride but never looked like they could reach the 398-run target.
Hashmatullah Shahidi’s 76, Rahmat Shah’s 46 and Asghar Afghan’s 44 were the only worthy scores, along with a cameo 28-37 from Gulbadin Naib.
England took wickets at regular intervals which stemmed Afghanistan’s run rate, but the visitors lacked a Morgan-like effort to give them any hope of getting close to their desired target.
Adil Rashied (3-66), Jofra Archer (3-52) and Mark Wood (2-40) were England’s wicket-takers as they sealed a mammoth 150-run victory.
This was the biggest win since 1975 in a World Cup.
Photo: Cricket World Cup/Twitter
