England beat West Indies by 45 runs in first ODI as Eoin Morgan strikes century after worrying blow to head
Windies won the toss on the first of three ODIs in Antigua as Ben Stokes struck three sixes
EOIN MORGAN scored his tenth one-day international century after receiving a ferocious and worrying whack on the head.
Captain Morgan continued his superb form since returning to the England side following his controversial decision to skip the tour of Bangladesh last year.
He scored 107 from 116 balls to lay the foundation of England’s 45-run triumph over West Indies in the first of the three-match series.
But his innings could have been cut off in its prime when he aimed a hook against burly fast bowler Shannon Gabriel, was early on the shot and ball crashed into his neck.
Fortunately, he was wearing a stem guard - the neck protector devised in the wake of the tragic death of Aussie batsman Phillip Hughes – and was given the all-clear to continue by team doctor Mark Wotherspoon.
He said: “Before the game, Joe Root and were talking about getting hit on the head because we use different make brands of helmets and then coincidentally I did get hit.
“We encourage everybody to use the stem guard. If we’re hit on the helmet, we’re told to change it straightaway. But I wasn’t coming off, I didn’t feel dazed or anything.
“It was a very satisfying innings. I rode my luck. My career has been a bit up and down so, when I’m in form, I want to make the most of it.”
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It is not the first time Morgan has been ‘sconed’ - he was forced to retire hurt during a one-day international against Australia at Old Trafford in 2015.
On a tricky surface, Morgan made his second century in three ODIs after one against India in Cuttack in January. He also scored 95 in England’s warm-up match in St.Kitts last week.
He became the third man after Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook to pass 2,000 ODI runs as England captain.
Earlier, when he had scored just four, Morgan was badly dropped at first slip from medium-pacer Carlos Brathwaite’s first delivery. He should also have been stumped on 69.
Morgan’s century arrived from 110 deliveries courtesy of a thumping pull for six over mid-wicket.
Sam Billings and Ben Stokes made half-centuries as England reached 296-6 in their 50 overs.
Billings failed in both the warm-up games but England kept faith and chose him ahead of Jonny Bairstow as temporary opening partner to Jason Roy while Alex Hales recovers from his hand injury.
There was plenty of muscular hitting from Stokes in his first international innings since being signed for £1.7m by Rising Pune Supergiants in the Indian Premier League auction last month.
The Durham all-rounder’s innings of 55 from 61 balls contained no fours and three sixes - one fewer than Brathwaite hit off him in a single over the last time Stokes played against West Indies.
The Windies rarely looked like getting close to their target and Chris Woakes and Liam Plunkett took four wickets each.