England flawed but not quite floored
Plays of the day from England's see-saw encounter with Afghanistan in Delhi
George Dobell
23-Mar-2016
Despite dislodging the bails before receiving the ball, Mohammad Nabi reacted quickly to run out Joe Root • Getty Images
The leave
Perhaps he misjudged the line; perhaps he thought the ball would turn. But Eoin Morgan simply left his first delivery from Mohammad Nabi and watched as it drifted into his off stump. It was an odd misjudgement from one of the England players with experience of the IPL and on a surface offering only gentle movement. It left Nabi on a hat-trick and England reeling.
Perhaps he misjudged the line; perhaps he thought the ball would turn. But Eoin Morgan simply left his first delivery from Mohammad Nabi and watched as it drifted into his off stump. It was an odd misjudgement from one of the England players with experience of the IPL and on a surface offering only gentle movement. It left Nabi on a hat-trick and England reeling.
The aborted run
Later in the same over, Joe Root was run out after over-committing to a quick single as the non-striker. After Ben Stokes squeezed a defensive prod into the leg side, he looked up to see Root haring down the pitch. Realising that Stokes was going nowhere, Root turned and scrambled for his ground but was left well short by an accurate throw and some calm thinking by Nabi. Although he initially broke the stumps with his left elbow before taking the ball, he had the presence of mind to rip the stump from the ground with Root still short of his ground. The run-out meant that England had lost three wickets in four deliveries without adding a run.
Later in the same over, Joe Root was run out after over-committing to a quick single as the non-striker. After Ben Stokes squeezed a defensive prod into the leg side, he looked up to see Root haring down the pitch. Realising that Stokes was going nowhere, Root turned and scrambled for his ground but was left well short by an accurate throw and some calm thinking by Nabi. Although he initially broke the stumps with his left elbow before taking the ball, he had the presence of mind to rip the stump from the ground with Root still short of his ground. The run-out meant that England had lost three wickets in four deliveries without adding a run.
The dragged-down drag-on
The ball from Rashid Khan was, in truth, something of a dragged down long-hop. But Ben Stokes, trying to heave it somewhere into downtown Delhi, lost control of his stroke - and his composure - to the extent that not only did he bottom edge the googly on to his stumps, but he ended up losing his footing. The wicket broken and the batsman floored: it wasn't a bad summary of England's performance with the bat.
The ball from Rashid Khan was, in truth, something of a dragged down long-hop. But Ben Stokes, trying to heave it somewhere into downtown Delhi, lost control of his stroke - and his composure - to the extent that not only did he bottom edge the googly on to his stumps, but he ended up losing his footing. The wicket broken and the batsman floored: it wasn't a bad summary of England's performance with the bat.
The escape
Replays suggested that Moeen Ali, on 20, was fortune to survive a ferocious leg-before appeal from the left-arm fast bowler Shapoor Zadran. Attempting to flick a straight one through the leg side, Moeen appeared to simply miss the ball. But umpire S Ravi clearly thought that Moeen had got some bat on it as he didn't signal for a leg bye as the batsmen scampered through for a single. Moeen went on to top score with an unbeaten 41 and just about kept England in the game.
Replays suggested that Moeen Ali, on 20, was fortune to survive a ferocious leg-before appeal from the left-arm fast bowler Shapoor Zadran. Attempting to flick a straight one through the leg side, Moeen appeared to simply miss the ball. But umpire S Ravi clearly thought that Moeen had got some bat on it as he didn't signal for a leg bye as the batsmen scampered through for a single. Moeen went on to top score with an unbeaten 41 and just about kept England in the game.
The body blow
If Afghanistan were to win this match, they probably needed Mohammad Shahzad to make a significant contribution with the bat. But, in the first over of their chase, his attempted heave over mid-on was beaten by some in-swing from David Willey and he was struck on the back pad in front of leg stump. England breathed a sigh of relief when umpire Rod Tucker's finger went up.
If Afghanistan were to win this match, they probably needed Mohammad Shahzad to make a significant contribution with the bat. But, in the first over of their chase, his attempted heave over mid-on was beaten by some in-swing from David Willey and he was struck on the back pad in front of leg stump. England breathed a sigh of relief when umpire Rod Tucker's finger went up.
The aborted run II
Afghanistan were battling to stay afloat, needing 58 from 27 balls with four wickets left, when they lost Najibullah Zadran to an excellent bit of fielding off his own bowling by Chris Jordan. Najibullah was a little unlucky, however, after being sent back by his partner, Samiullah Shenwari. In diving to regain his ground, Najibullah's bat bounced over the line - it was no more than an inch above the turf when the bails were broken but that was enough for third umpire Chris Gaffaney to see daylight and send him on his way.
Afghanistan were battling to stay afloat, needing 58 from 27 balls with four wickets left, when they lost Najibullah Zadran to an excellent bit of fielding off his own bowling by Chris Jordan. Najibullah was a little unlucky, however, after being sent back by his partner, Samiullah Shenwari. In diving to regain his ground, Najibullah's bat bounced over the line - it was no more than an inch above the turf when the bails were broken but that was enough for third umpire Chris Gaffaney to see daylight and send him on his way.
George Dobell is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo