Willey delighted as captain Morgan hits form

The captain was worryingly short of runs in the final three matches of the tourists’ 3-2 one-day international series defeat against South Africa.

But he was back with a bang at Boland Park, hitting five sixes from the first 10 balls he faced on the way to 42 from just 13 as England piled up 202-6 with yet another half-century from Alex Hales (78) at the top of the order.

Reece Topley (3-29) and Yorkshire pair David Willey and Adil Rashid then did most to keep South Africa A’s chase under control for victory by 44 runs in the only warm-up fixture before two Twenty20 internationals on Friday and Sunday to end England’s tour.

Willey, who joins the White Rose this season, had no doubts Morgan would be back in the runs soon, but was still delighted to see him strike the ball so powerfully again.

“For someone like Morgan, it’s just a matter of time before he comes off,” said the left-arm seamer.

“We’ve seen tonight, when he does, he can swing the game in a matter of balls.”

Morgan has been the catalyst, with his leadership, for England’s major improvement in white-ball cricket over the past 12 months.

Willey added: “Even when he doesn’t get the scores he’d like to, the way he goes about his cricket – that aggressive style – is something he encourages us to play.

“Certainly, the captain leading from the front like that is fantastic for the rest of the team.”

Hales set the tone for a big total with his sixth consecutive half-century, having passed 50 in each of the ODIs.

Willey said: “He can’t stop scoring runs.

“He played very well again tonight, and made it look very easy – long may it continue.”

England were impressive throughout with the bat, but did look briefly vulnerable with the ball against Theunis de Bruyn (56) until Rashid took two big wickets.

“We said we wanted to come here and treat it as a third Twenty20 (international),” said Willey.

“We were very destructive with the bat, and then came out and bowled fairly well on a flat wicket.

“Winning is a habit, so this is a good start for us.”

Willey is hoping to be back in the team for the first of two matches against South Africa, at Newlands, having lost his place for the final two ODIs.

He said: “I managed to swing the ball up front, and managed to come back at the end and execute my slower balls and yorkers.

“No one likes to get dropped ... but you have to take it on the chin, try to work on your game and come back better.”

England rested Yorkshire’s Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali for the Twenty20 warm-up match. The absence of the three regulars was anticipated, after they played every match of England’s 3-2 one-day international series defeat to South Africa.

They were replaced by Willey, James Vince, Sam Billings, but are all likely to be back for tomorrow’s Twenty20 international in Cape Town.