Record-breaking pair end Irish hopes as England show frailties

Ravi Bopara also cracked a rapid hundred, his first in an ODI, in a superb unbroken 226-run stand with Morgan as England recovered from 48 for four to win in Malahide by six wickets with seven overs to spare.

Ireland’s score of 269 for seven had been based around a fine century by their captain William Porterfield, who eventually became one of four victims for another of England’s Irishmen, Boyd Rankin.

When Tim Murtagh then took three early England wickets, Ireland’s hopes of repeating their famous 2011 World Cup win over their neighbours were high.

But although the hosts continued to look much sharper in the field than under-strength England had done, the experience of Morgan and Bopara shone through.

Morgan ended unbeaten on 124 after hitting eight fours and four sixes and Bopara finished in a hurry, reaching 101 after 10 fours and five sixes.

It was a world record fifth-wicket partnership in one-day international cricket.

The England captain was pleased with his timely return to form ahead of the five-match series against Australia which starts at Headingley on Friday.

Playing at the ground where he grew up, Morgan struck 226 in 169 balls during a breathtaking partnership with Bopara.

Morgan, who had not passed 50 in his previous 19 ODIs, said: “Today has been magnificent to get time in middle, runs under my belt and to contribute to an England win.

“Time in the middle as a batsman is crucial going into big series. Today I felt I was pretty good.

“I was more nervous in the changing-room than I was in the middle.

“The wicket was tough and challenging. It was a challenge with ball and bat.”

Bopara admitted England had been “in a hole” when he joined Morgan in the middle.

“I was sitting up there (in the changing room) at three down and I said to Michael Carberry that we would do well to win it from here.

“I said to Morgs when I went out there that if we take it as deep as we can then we can win it with a couple of overs to spare – but we have to take it deep.

“With one-day cricket when you are in that hole you have to take a few risks to free up things.”

Yesterday’s game was England’s first ODI since the Champions Trophy final against India, when Morgan and Bopara were out from consecutive deliveries to prompt a late collapse that cost victory.

Bopara was happy with his form as he posted his first ODI century from 74 balls.

“It’s been really good,” he said. “I’ve just tried keeping it simple. I’m hungry for runs.

“It’s not a nice place when you are sitting on the outside. It hurts. I’ve worked hard to get back in the side.”

Morgan also offered praise for Ireland who saw another of their former number, Boyd Rankin, take four wickets in his ODI debut for England.

A record sell-out crowd of 10,000 watched on at Irish cricket’s new headquarters, which were showcased on the international stage for the first time.

“It was an incredible day for Irish cricket to have that sort of support was fantastic,” said Morgan. “Congratulations to Cricket Ireland for a successful day.”

Porterfield was left disappointed after his 112 proved to be in a losing cause.

“It was nice to get 100, but a shame it was in a losing side,” he said. “I felt all right, to play England and pull on an Ireland shirt is always special and it was nice to get a score.”

Porterfield denied that defeat was left to taste even more sour because two former team-mates had been the cornerstone of England’s success.

“It doesn’t matter who gets them against you,” he said. “We were pretty confident on that wicket at half-way and then after the start we got (with the ball).

“Once the ball got softer it didn’t grip as much as we thought it would for the spinner. But we can’t take anything away from Morgy and Ravi.”

England will have plenty to ponder as they head to Leeds following a distinctly average display.

Their fielding was often poor and their top-order batting failed spectacularly.

Debutant Michael Carberry dropped two regulation catches in the deep, including one off Porterfield while on 85, and then fell early in the reply.

It was also a day to forget for Yorkshire’s Gary Ballance who failed to trouble the scorers as he fell for a three-ball duck, unable to get his bat out of the way of a ball he attempted to leave and ending up caught behind.