Reuters
Christchurch, Feb 23: England completed a clinical 119-run victory over Scotland in their cricket World Cup Pool A match at Hagley Oval here Monday to record their first win in the tournament.
England posted 303 for eight after being asked to bat then dismissed Scotland for 184 from 47.2 overs on a day which began under dark clouds and concluded in bright sunshine.
Moeen Ali (128, 107b, 12×4, 5×6) produced a stream of delightful drives to reach his second one-day international century and shared a 172-run opening partnership with Ian Bell (54, 85b, 2×4) to give England a grip on that match they were never to relinquish.
Although wickets fell regularly after their departures, captain Eoin Morgan (46, 42b, 4×4, 2×6) at last found some form to guide his team past the 300-run mark.
Left-hander Ali was in prime form from the outset, driving the ball fluently through the off-side and punishing any short-pitched deliveries with some booming pulls. He reached his century off 91 deliveries with his fourth six of the innings, lofting off-spinner Majid Haq high over mid-wicket. Ali pulled a fifth six into the crowd but then lofted Haq straight to Freddie Coleman at long-on.
After the interval, England’s pace attack, which had been slaughtered by New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum in Wellington last Friday, took control.
Opener Kyle Coetzer took two boundaries in James Anderson’s opening over and continued to drive and cut confidently to reach his half century off 64 balls. Runs dried up at the other end against disciplined bowling and his dismissal for 71 with 11 boundaries was the beginning of the end.
Scoreboard:
Moeen Ali c Coleman b Haq 128, Ian Bell c Coetzer b Berrington 54, Gary Ballance b Evans 10, Joe Root c Cross b Davey 1, Eoin Morgan c Mommsen b Davey 46, James Taylor st Cross b Davey 17, Jos Buttler c Davey b Wardlaw 24, Chris Woakes c Mommsen b Davey 1, Stuart Broad n o 0, Steven Finn n o 1, Extras: (b-1, lb-4, w-15, nb-1) 21, Total: (for eight wickets) 303.
Fall: 1/172, 2/201, 3/203, 4/203, 5/252, 6/297, 7/300, 8/300.
Bowling: Iain Wardlaw 10-1-60-1, Josh Davey 10-0-68-4, Alasdair Evans 10-1-46-1, Majid Haq 10-0-51-1, Richie Berrington 5-0-43-1, Matt Machan 2-0-11-0, Kyle Coetzer 3-0-19-0.
Scotland: Kyle Coetzer c Woakes b Ali 71, Calum MacLeod c Buttler b Anderson 4, Freddie Coleman c Morgan b Woakes 7, Matt Machan c Buttler b Finn 5, Preston Mommsen c Broad b Root 26, Richie Berrington c Morgan b Ali 8, Matthew Cross c Root b Finn 23, Josh Davey c Buttler b Finn 9, Majid Haq c Ballance b Woakes 15, Alasdair Evans c Buttler b Anderson 9, Iain Wardlaw n o 0, Extras: (lb-5, w-2) 7, Total: (all out in 42.2 overs) 184.
Fall: 1/17, 2/47, 3/54, 4/114, 5/122, 6/128, 7/150, 8/160, 9/184, 10/184.
Bowling: James Anderson 6-0-30-2, Stuart Broad 7-0-24-0, Chris Woakes 5.2-0-25-2, Steven Finn 9-3-26-3, Moeen Ali 10-0-47-2, Joe Root 5-0-27-1.
