We spoke to Eoin Morgan after England's exciting win against India
By Rob Barnett
England’s flexible plans helped them clinch victory over India in the NatWest International T20, according to stand-in captain Eoin Morgan.
Morgan, leading the hosts in place of Stuart Broad who this week underwent knee surgery, kept calm in the face of Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s late onslaught as India bore down on a target of 181 in front of a raucous Edgbaston crowd dominated by their fans.
Needing 17 to win from the last over, Dhoni immediately deposited a full ball from Chris Woakes over the midwicket rope.
That caused Morgan and Woakes to revert to ‘Plan B’, and the seamer produced a series of slower balls that Dhoni could manage just one more boundary from.
When the India skipper turned down a single from the penultimate delivery, the tourists required five to win and four to take the game to a super over.
However, Dhoni could only play Woakes’ short last ball to deep square-leg for a single as England prevailed by three runs in the one-off contest.
Speaking exclusively to ecb.co.uk, Morgan recalled his conversation with Woakes ahead of the final over.
“We just talked about plans and our plans were quite clear,” he said.
“The first ball went to plan but obviously there’s very little margin for error when MS Dhoni is at the crease.
“So we changed our plans and Woakesy executed them really, really well against one of the best in the world.”
Woakes’ death bowling was part of an impressive England effort with the ball.
That was typified by paceman Steven Finn and spinner James Tredwell conceding just 28 runs each from their respective four overs.
Yet the match still went to the wire and, having suffered much limited-overs disappointment of late, England ended their summer on a high.
Morgan described it as a “great game to be a part of, particularly as a winning captain”.
He added: “We play a lot of games like this and sometimes we haven’t got the reward that we deserved. Today, particularly the bowlers were outstanding.”
Morgan, playing in his 50th T20 international, returned to batting form with a sensational 71 from 31 deliveries.
The diminutive left-hander was instrumental in England amassing 81 from the final five overs.
“For me, it’s nice to get some time at the crease, to get myself some runs,” he reflected.
“I’ve been light on runs recently so I’m delighted I have contributed to a winning cause today.”