Mor The Merrier

Eoin’s troops edge a thriller to take series and prove that this format is still a treat

- Gideon Brooks

The ECB has staked most of its reputation and much of the family silver on The Hundred which starts today with considerable fanfare.

But Eoin Morgan’s England, Pakistan, and 21,000 people at Old Trafford showed last night there remains nothing much wrong with T20 when the planets align.

Chris Jordan and David Willey brought home a three-wicket victory with two balls to spare and clinch a 2-1 series win.

Yet they did so in a match played out to echoes of Hi-Ho Silver Lining and Sweet Caroline, hooting horns and fluttering green flags of Pakistan and with a full house crammed in under beating sun which provided a ringing endorsement.

Morgan brought himself and Willey back for this decider, with Tom Curran and Matt Parkinson benched, the latter in front of his home crowd.