Tweet
England 196 for 5 (Wright 99*) v Afghanistan
Luke Wright drives through the off side during his impressive innings © Getty Images
Luke Wright could not quite make it two hundreds in the day at the World Twenty20 but produced a blistering display with 99 off 55 balls to lead England to a daunting 196 for 5 as they began their title defence against Afghanistan. He was the second England batsman to make 99 in a Twenty20 following Alex Hales' innings against West Indies earlier in the year.
Until the last few weeks of the English season Wright was not lined up for the starting XI in this tournament, but Ravi Bopara's rapid loss of form provided a vacancy and he has provided evidence that he is a far more rounded player than when he last appeared. He powered past his previous best of 71 against Netherlands, at Lord's, during the 2009 World Twenty20. England, famously, lost that match but the odds on a repeat result here are now slim.
Wright, who was dropped on 75, was chiefly responsible for some fierce acceleration by England as they scored 124 off the second 10 overs of their innings after a tricky start. He started the final over on 95 and needed three off the last ball to make England's first T20 hundred but could only clubbed a brace through midwicket.
He received solid support from Alex Hales and Eoin Morgan while Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow contributed rapid cameos. There were some costly overs during the innings, most notably 32 off the penultimate against Izatullah Dawlatzai which included two no-balls.
It was not an easy start for England as Shapoor Zadran, who troubled India's top order, produced a superb opening over. Craig Kieswetter appeared confused by the two-paced nature of the pitch and played out five dot balls before dragging into his stumps to complete a rare wicket maiden.
Hales slashed his first delivery just over slip in a far from assured beginning and after four overs the score was 15 for 1. However, then the game started to change. Having gauged the nature of the pitch Hales and Wright located the boundary as Shapoor's third over cost 23 although four of those were byes when the wicketkeeper was beaten by the bounce. The final ball of the over was launched into the stands by Wright as England began to take control.
The boundaries continued to flow in the final over of the Powerplay with Hales picking off back-to-back straight drives, the second of which was a classy shot through mid-on, as the last two overs of the fielding restricts brought 37.
The introduction of Afghanistan's spinners briefly halted the flow of boundaries with the surface allowing the ball to skid through awkwardly. Samiullah Shenwari found a nice loop on his leg spin, beating both Hales and Wright. Hales, though, was unfortunate to be dismissed when Wright's straight drive was deflected into the non-striker's stumps by Karim Sadiq.
Just as England were in need of another healthy over Wright obliged when he dented Shenwari's figures with a six over long-on and followed that by fetching another delivery through midwicket.
Morgan was not finding life quite so comfortable as he struggled to locate his timing against Mohammad Nabi's well-controlled offspin and was largely dealing in singles. He had made 13 off 16 deliveries when he middled one with a effortless flick over deep midwicket, using the incredible bat speed that enables him to clear the ropes with barely more than a flick.
The over that began with Morgan's six, bowled by Nabi, ended up costing 22 as Wright went four, six, four off three consecutive deliveries. Nabi had managed to bowl his first two overs for 10 but ended with figures of none for 46. Morgan, having never really cut loose as he can, picked out midwicket but Afghanistan's fielding was again short of international level with fumbles in the outfield and another drop when Wright was spilled at short third-man on 75.
A further area of basic skills that failed Afghanistan was keeping the front foot behind the line as Dawlatzai delivered three no-balls during the closing stages of the innings. England's middle order, meanwhile, did not hold back as Bairstow creamed his first ball into the stands during a commanding finish to the innings.
Luke Wright drives through the off side during his impressive innings © Getty Images
Luke Wright could not quite make it two hundreds in the day at the World Twenty20 but produced a blistering display with 99 off 55 balls to lead England to a daunting 196 for 5 as they began their title defence against Afghanistan. He was the second England batsman to make 99 in a Twenty20 following Alex Hales' innings against West Indies earlier in the year.
Until the last few weeks of the English season Wright was not lined up for the starting XI in this tournament, but Ravi Bopara's rapid loss of form provided a vacancy and he has provided evidence that he is a far more rounded player than when he last appeared. He powered past his previous best of 71 against Netherlands, at Lord's, during the 2009 World Twenty20. England, famously, lost that match but the odds on a repeat result here are now slim.
Wright, who was dropped on 75, was chiefly responsible for some fierce acceleration by England as they scored 124 off the second 10 overs of their innings after a tricky start. He started the final over on 95 and needed three off the last ball to make England's first T20 hundred but could only clubbed a brace through midwicket.
He received solid support from Alex Hales and Eoin Morgan while Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow contributed rapid cameos. There were some costly overs during the innings, most notably 32 off the penultimate against Izatullah Dawlatzai which included two no-balls.
It was not an easy start for England as Shapoor Zadran, who troubled India's top order, produced a superb opening over. Craig Kieswetter appeared confused by the two-paced nature of the pitch and played out five dot balls before dragging into his stumps to complete a rare wicket maiden.
Hales slashed his first delivery just over slip in a far from assured beginning and after four overs the score was 15 for 1. However, then the game started to change. Having gauged the nature of the pitch Hales and Wright located the boundary as Shapoor's third over cost 23 although four of those were byes when the wicketkeeper was beaten by the bounce. The final ball of the over was launched into the stands by Wright as England began to take control.
The boundaries continued to flow in the final over of the Powerplay with Hales picking off back-to-back straight drives, the second of which was a classy shot through mid-on, as the last two overs of the fielding restricts brought 37.
The introduction of Afghanistan's spinners briefly halted the flow of boundaries with the surface allowing the ball to skid through awkwardly. Samiullah Shenwari found a nice loop on his leg spin, beating both Hales and Wright. Hales, though, was unfortunate to be dismissed when Wright's straight drive was deflected into the non-striker's stumps by Karim Sadiq.
Just as England were in need of another healthy over Wright obliged when he dented Shenwari's figures with a six over long-on and followed that by fetching another delivery through midwicket.
Morgan was not finding life quite so comfortable as he struggled to locate his timing against Mohammad Nabi's well-controlled offspin and was largely dealing in singles. He had made 13 off 16 deliveries when he middled one with a effortless flick over deep midwicket, using the incredible bat speed that enables him to clear the ropes with barely more than a flick.
The over that began with Morgan's six, bowled by Nabi, ended up costing 22 as Wright went four, six, four off three consecutive deliveries. Nabi had managed to bowl his first two overs for 10 but ended with figures of none for 46. Morgan, having never really cut loose as he can, picked out midwicket but Afghanistan's fielding was again short of international level with fumbles in the outfield and another drop when Wright was spilled at short third-man on 75.
A further area of basic skills that failed Afghanistan was keeping the front foot behind the line as Dawlatzai delivered three no-balls during the closing stages of the innings. England's middle order, meanwhile, did not hold back as Bairstow creamed his first ball into the stands during a commanding finish to the innings.