NOTTINGHAM, England, (Reuters) – England’s Eoin Morgan plundered 125 not out for his maiden test century to help dig his team out of trouble and steer them to 331 for four at stumps on day one of the first test with Pakistan yesterday.
Left-hander Morgan — who reached three figures with a six — came to the crease at 118 for four and added 213 with Paul Collingwood, who was 81 not out at the close at Trent Bridge.
Mohammad Aamer had earlier claimed three wickets and was the only bowler to pose a regular threat, finishing the day with three for 39 from 19 overs.
“It was definitely my greatest highlight,” Morgan told reporters. “It is a massive moment in my career. I’m extremely satisfied to score a test match hundred in only my third game.
“I was pleased that I allowed myself a chance to get in under difficult circumstances when the ball was swinging. We have ourselves a great platform and took advantage later on.”
Morgan’s innings may have cemented his name in the reckoning for the Ashes tour in November and served to illustrate the growing strength of England’s middle order, with the injured Ian Bell to come back.
It also helped justify Andrew Strauss’s decision to bat after winning the toss in overcast weather that eventually gave way to sunshine.
Pakistan, seeking to avenge their 3-0 series loss in England in 2006, started well with four early wickets but glaring errors by wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal as well as some wayward bowling meant they could not capitalise.
“I just see it as a tough day at the office,” Pakistan’s Umar Amin said. “We did our best and were in a very good position with England on 118 for four but we could not get wickets at crucial times. Tomorrow will be a new day.”
Pakistan also suffered from the Decision Review System (DRS), which was employed in England for the first time.
The tourists incorrectly challenged two umpiring decisions to lose their two allocated reviews while England had two successful reviews and lost one.
While Morgan’s enterprising 182-ball innings, which comprised 18 fours and one six, was chanceless, Collingwood struggled for fluency but battled through.
He survived one chance when he should have been stumped on 48 when beaten by a ripping leg-break from Danish Kaneria, but keeper Akmal fumbled the ball.
Akmal, who struggled with his glovework on the 2006 tour of England and also dropped several chances in Australia in December-January, dropped a simple chance off Strauss when the England opener had scored 15. Strauss went on to make 45.
Morgan was at his best before tea, when he was particularly aggressive against the spinners Kaneria and Shoaib Malik, striking six boundaries in 12 balls at one stage.
One such boundary was a reverse sweep to third man off Kaneria, a shot he has become renowned for in one-day cricket.
His 17th four, stroked gracefully through cover off Mohammad Asif, was perhaps his most elegant, and it raised England’s 300. Former Ireland player Morgan is playing in just his third test.
Earlier, Aamer claimed three of the first four wickets by having Alastair Cook (8) caught at first slip and Strauss caught behind to a short and wide ball.
After Asif bowled a rusty-looking Kevin Pietersen for nine off the inside edge, Aamer trapped Jonathan Trott lbw having played no shot. Trott unsuccessfully challenged his dismissal.
Pakistan’s two referrals were lost in the space of two Asif overs after Pietersen was given not out by Sri Lanka umpire Asoka de Silva, first lbw and then caught behind.
Scoreboard
England first innings
A. Strauss c Kamran Akmal b Mohammad Aamer 45
A. Cook c Imran Farhat b Mohammad Aamer 8
J. Trott lbw b Mohammad Aamer 38
K. Pietersen b Mohammad Asif 9
P. Collingwood not out 81
E. Morgan not out 125
Extras: (b-5, lb-8, w-5, nb-7) 25
Total (four wickets; 90 overs) 331
Fall of wickets: 1-42 2-93 3-116 4-118
Still to bat: M.Prior, G.Swann, S.Broad, J.Anderson, S.Finn.
Bowling: Aamer 19-4-39-3 (1w), Asif 20-6-65-1, Gul 16-4-58-0 (2nb), Kaneria 21-0-100-0 (2nb), Malik 11-2-39-0, Ali 1-0-9-0, Amin 1-0-3-0, Farhat 1-0-5-0.
Pakistan: Salman Butt (captain), Imran Farhat, Azhar Ali, Umar Amin, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Asif.
