Morgan not getting carried away

Cricket: Eoin Morgan insists he is still far from establishing his place in the England team despite turning in another impressive display to help his side beat South Africa in their opening Twenty20 encounter in Johannesburg on Friday.

The Dubliner, who plays his cricket with Middlesex , trained with the rest of his team at Centurion on Saturday ahead of their second 20-over encounter, but there were three notable absentees in Paul Collingwood, James Anderson and Graeme Swann.

The captain sat out practice as a precaution after waking up with a stiff back following his half-century last night, while Anderson - who missed England's final warm-up game against South Africa A last Tuesday due to soreness in his right knee - was also given time off alongside Swann (side).

The trio all face late fitness tests tomorrow, but despite their absence the mood in the camp was still positive after what was their first victory over the Proteas in three Twenty20 attempts.

Morgan was named man-of-the-match after a thrilling 85 not out from 45 balls helped set the tourists up for a one-run win courtesy of the Duckworth/Lewis method.

His second 20-over innings for his country was the highest individual total by an Englishman in the shortest format of the game, surpassing Collingwood's 79 against West Indies in 2007.

After bludgeoning five sixes and seven fours, Morgan still believes he has some to go before he can be recognised as a first-team regular.

He said: "I think it's contributed towards it (establishing a place in the team). Again, I think I'm far from cementing my place in the side. It's a building block towards where I want to be, but I was certainly happy with the way I did play.

"But I've only played a handful of games and I've still a long way to go."

Morgan, who was at the crease for less than an hour, was given good support throughout his stay by his skipper Collingwood (57) as England totalled 202 for six - their best international 20-over total.

The hosts were reduced to 127 for three after 13 overs in response when rain ended the game and despite the manner of victory, it did not dampen England's celebrations.

With one more Twenty20 to come followed by five one-dayers and a four-match Test series, Morgan admitted the win was a massive boost for everyone.

Asked if victory had a positive psychological effect, the 23-year-old said: "Yeah, I think so. It was obviously a good game of cricket and very exciting. We've certainly put a positive slant on the series to come with the way we batted, the way we bowled and the way we fielded."

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England ride on Morgan masterclass

England 202 for 6 (Morgan 85*, Collingwood 57) beat South Africa 127 for 3 (Bosman 58) by one run (D/L method)

England's new fearless batting approach, led by an audacious 45-ball 85 from Eoin Morgan, got their international winter off to a winning start, but it required an accurate over from James Anderson to secure England the opening Twenty20 international. After posting 202 for 6, their highest score in Twenty20s, England turned the D/L equation into their favour after South Africa had been in the winning position an over before and when a thunderstorm arrived at the Wanderers the home side needed to be 129 after 13 overs, but Anderson had conceded just six from his third over to put England ahead of the rate.

Although England will happily take the result it was an unfulfilling end to a match packed with powerful hitting as Morgan led the way, with England's highest individual Twenty20 score, adding 98 in nine overs with Paul Collingwood who clubbed 57 off 32 deliveries in a full-blooded batting performance. They certainly lived up to the promise of not taking a backward step after coming out of their shells during the Champions Trophy.

South Africa responded through Loots Bosman as he cracked 58 off 31 balls, adding 97 for the first wicket with Graeme Smith in 8.3 overs, before England claimed crucial wickets. Collingwood deserves credit for making the right call in recalling Anderson to the attack, after South Africa moved ahead of the D/L target when Albie Morkel swung Graeme Swann for six.

Alastair Cook pulled off a vital diving save at backward point to prevent a certain boundary from Anderson's second ball back and after conceding a wide he responded by going for two off the next three balls. When AB de Villiers could only club a single to midwicket England were ahead and the heavens opened.

When Bosman and Smith were together South Africa were making rapid progress towards the target in a similar manner to how they chased down 206 to beat West Indies here during the opening match of the 2007 World Twenty20. England's quicks tried to mix up their deliveries but overdid the variety; Tim Bresnan's second over went for 14 and Sajid Mahmood's second cost 19 as South Africa had 67 on the board after six overs. Bosman's 26-ball fifty was the second fastest for South Africa, but when Smith carved to deep cover England started to claw back. Collingwood held a steepler to end Bosman's charge and Mahmood trapped JP Duminy lbw for 6.

Following the bowler-friendly conditions of the Champions Trophy, this was the Wanderers back in more familiar form as boundaries flowed across and over the boundary with regularity. Even though the game lost seven overs, 17 sixes were hit which is enough to make the bowlers question their vocation.

The first-ball dismissal of Joe Denly (his second in two Twenty20 internationals) meant an early arrival to the middle for Jonathan Trott for the most hyped homecoming since Kevin Pietersen. After a predictable first-ball bouncer he made England's first statement of the tour with four consecutive boundaries off Dale Steyn's first over.

Collingwood made his intent clear when he launched Morkel for a leg-side six and despite the two early wickets England's fifty was up inside the six-over Powerplay. The team was certainly living up to the new positive approach instilled by Andy Flower and the absent Andrew Strauss. It wasn't dull.

Trott's contribution was ended when he chanced a single to backward point and was beaten by a sharp return even though the bowler, Roelof van der Merwe, almost messed up his attempt at breaking the stumps. However, it brought in another in-form batsman.

Morgan has provided the middle-order with the power for so long lacking in England's limited-overs side and this display was another demonstration of his awesome striking ability. One six over the leg-side went out of the ground, off Steyn no less, leaving gasps of amazement from those watching. Yes, the Wanderers is at altitude. Yes, the pitch had the pace and bounce batsmen enjoy. But it was a monumental blow nonetheless.

He followed up by dispatching the struggling Morkel for 14 off three balls before Collingwood made it 21 from the 14th over with a thumping six over long on. Smith made regular bowling changes, moved his field around all over the place, but was powerless to stop the onslaught.

Both Collingwood (27 balls) and Morgan (29 balls) reached their half-centuries in the 15th over and by the time Collingwood carved to deep cover the pair had added 98 in 9.1 overs. Briefly South Africa slowed the charge with three wickets in 15 balls, but Morgan kept his head to regain the momentum and took 29 off his last seven balls with his full array of drives, deflections and mighty blows. In terms of whetting the appetite for the tour ahead, this certainly wasn't a bad start.

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