England post 131 in Fatullah

Eoin Morgan scored an unbeaten 43 off 42 deliveries
18 March 2014

Stand-in captain Eoin Morgan top-scored with an unbeaten 43 as England posted 131 in their World Twenty20 warm-up match against West Indies.

Morgan, leading the side due to Stuart Broad's ongoing tendonitis, hit three fours and the only six of the innings in his 42-ball stay but lacked significant back-up.

Moeen Ali's 22 was the next best score as England lost seven wickets.

The innings began with an eventful first over, Michael Lumb taking 14 runs from five balls before losing his middle stump to Krishmar Santokie's final delivery.

Moeen, who had come in at number seven when the sides met in Barbados five days ago, was this time sent in at three.

He had a quick look at the pace of the pitch before hitting two boundaries in three balls, one off Santokie and then off the leg-spin of Samuel Badree.

Moeen found the ropes again with an imperious back-foot drive in the fifth over but was gone when he went to heave Santokie over mid-wicket and top-edged to mid-on.

With the game moving on around him, opener Alex Hales had edged along to nine in 12 balls and he fell as soon as he looked to lift the tempo.

A botched slog-sweep against Badree saw him pinned lbw and left England 48 for three after six powerplay overs.

Morgan and Jos Buttler took the score to 70 at the halfway mark, both men starting cautiously with just Ravi Bopara left of the recognised batsmen.

The pair added 33 before Buttler lost patience, backing away to leg and spooning a gentle catch to point to give Andre Russell a wicket in his first over.

With the run-rate slipping, Morgan launched Marlon Samuels for the first six of the innings midway through the 16th over, Bopara following up with a one-bounce four to take the tally into three figures.

Bopara picked up four more from Sheldon Cottrell before holing out down the ground for 15, leaving England on 114 for five with three overs remaining.

Bresnan (nought) and Chris Jordan (eight) did little to bolster the total but Morgan pushed on to make the total competitive.

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