England vs South Africa: Eoin Morgan outshines IPL's Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler

Eoin Morgan is no longer England’s most exciting batsman but he still has the ability to put the team’s IPL stars in the shade.

Morgan made a superb 107 from 93 deliveries to guide England, who lost the toss, to 339 for six. A stand of 117 in 13.3 overs between Morgan and Moeen Ali – who made 77 not out from only 51 balls and signed off with a six – wrestled back control of the innings from South Africa and set them an exacting chase.

The Leeds crowd were expecting a show from Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, following their successful stints in the Indian Premier League. Stokes’ justified his £1.7million contract with Rising Pune Supergiant by being named the most valuable player in the tournament, while Buttler scored 272 runs at a strike rate of 153 for Mumbai Indians – who eventually beat Pune in the final.

Neither Stokes nor Buttler was present for that showpiece as they had been recalled for an England training camp in Spain – to the fury of Kevin Pietersen, who tweeted: “Absolutely PATHETIC that [Ben Stokes] & [Jos Buttler] have to go drink a few beers in Spain instead of playing IPL finals!”

Stokes made 25 from 30 deliveries, including a merciless straight six off Kagiso Rabada before he holed out to the same bowler. Buttler was similarly negligent when he fell for seven, caught by David Miller, who had been posted precisely for the shot, at leg gully.

Yet Morgan, the captain, held England’s innings together – retaining the calm demeanour he believes will be so important to England’s efforts in next month’s Champions Trophy. During his international career, his form has fluctuated dramatically – though when he finds rhythm, he usually makes the most of it. This was Morgan’s third one-day century this year, and underlined why he will be a key man if England are to prevail in June.

While Stokes and Buttler were making headlines in the IPL, it was easy to forget that Morgan was there at all. He played only four times for Kings XI Punjab, with a highest score of 26. Anyone who underestimates him, though, does so at great risk.

England had lost both Jason Roy and Alex Hales when Morgan faced his first ball, with the score 101 for two, in the 18th over. You can tell the state of Morgan’s game by the way he hits boundaries: even when he launches a six, he does not appear to be exerting himself too much.

There were two sweet strokes early in his innings off Andile Phehlukwayo – an easy swing of the arms that sent the ball over long-on, and a hop-and-a-skip to leg before finding the boundary board again. Joe Root, Stokes and Buttler came and went but Morgan stayed firm, reaching his 50 from 44 deliveries.

When Buttler was out, England were 198 for five. Had Morgan been out at that stage, England might not have made it to 300. Yet he and Moeen Ali counter-attacked brilliantly, bringing up their century stand from just 73 deliveries.

Moeen tore apart the leg-spin of Imran Tahir, taking him for three sixes in a single over. Morgan cruised towards a well-deserved century, which he reached with another six – Rabada delivered the short ball, Morgan sent it into the sweet stall near the old pavilion. He had 102 from 90 balls, his third hundred in eight ODIs.

When Morgan made his debut for England in 2009, after defecting from Ireland, he was then what Stokes and Buttler are now. He was the man with the spectacular shots, the man who said the IPL was the place to be when it was still treated with suspicion in England.

Morgan was eventually caught in the deep off Chris Morris but he had made his statement. A spectacular, important century from Morgan in a one-day international. It could easily have been 2009 or 2010 – and it bodes well for England.