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England captain Eoin Morgan heaps praise upon 'magnificent' Jonny Bairstow as hosts down India
Eoin Morgan admitted Jonny Bairstow was ‘magnificent’ as England beat India to keep their World Cup dreams alive.
Yorkshire-based Bairstow hit 111 from 109 balls as a scintillating opening partnership with Jason Roy helped England to 160 before their first wicket dropped.
It proved pivotal as England eventually reached 337 - a total 31 runs too many for India to catch.
And captain Morgan believes England were back towards their best as they put two consecutive defeats behind them.
READ MORE: Jonny Bairstow leads England to crucial win against India to boost hosts' hopes of semi-finals
The 32-year-old told Sky Sports Cricket: “We’ve had an outstanding day right from the very beginning.
“Winning the toss and batting was an easy decision this morning – it turned probably to be a very, very good decision. I wasn’t that confident about it this morning, but it ended up working out.
“Regardless of the toss, we played extremely well. Jason Roy coming back in, him and Jonny Bairstow up the top, Jonny going on and getting a hundred, which was magnificent to watch and the continuation of partnerships right throughout took us to quite a formidable total.”
In the chase, India looked slow and steady until Liam Plunkett dismissed captain and talisman Virat Kohli on 66 (76).
Plunkett struck twice more in the death overs, removing both Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya just as they seemed to be breathing fresh life into India’s charge for victory.
And Morgan heaped praise upon the bowler, who ended with 3-55 off his ten overs.
Morgan added: “Liam has been outstanding for us the last four years.
“Whenever he’s come into the side or had a long run in the side, he’s been absolutely outstanding, particularly in that middle period where it is so difficult to take wickets.
“He’s had a really good day out today.”
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