Cricket World Cup 2019: Eoin Morgan delights in 'outstanding day' for England with win over India

Jonny Bairstow scored a magnificent hundred before the returning Liam Plunkett helped himself to three wickets as the tournament hosts saw off previously unbeaten India

Eoin Morgan delighted in an “outstanding day” that saw his England side keep their World Cup hopes alive.

Jonny Bairstow scored a magnificent hundred before the returning Liam Plunkett helped himself to three wickets as the tournament hosts saw off previously unbeaten India by 31 runs at Edgbaston.

The result means England’s chances of making the semi-finals remain in their own hands with a win over New Zealand in Durham later this week enough to see them progress to the final four.

“I thought we had an outstanding day,” Morgan said afterwards. “Winning the toss and batting was an easy decision and it ended up working out.

“Jason Roy coming back in, Jonny going on and getting a hundred that was magnificent. The continuation of partnerships throughout took us to a good total.

“The two main spinners for India are huge threats, but them being taken on was great to see. It’s the way we want to play our cricket.

“Throughout the innings the feedback was the pitch got more difficult to bat on, it was getting more purchase off the deck, so I knew it wouldn’t be easy.”

Plunkett was particularly impressive on his return to the side and took the crucial wicket of opposing captain Virat Kohli when momentum was threatening to edge towards the visitors in the run chase.

Liam Plunkett celebrates taking the wicket of India captain Virat Kohli (Reuters)

And Morgan was delighted to see his selection decision pay off in such fashion.

“Liam (Plunkett) has been outstanding for us the last four years. Particularly in that middle period, where it’s difficult to take wickets,” he added.

“There is absolutely no (easy) game in this tournament. Every game in this World Cup has been very tough and will continue to be.”

Kohli, who passed 50 for a fifth consecutive innings in India’s reply, conceded the better team won on the day.

“I thought they were going towards 360 at one stage and we did quite well to pull them back,” he said. “We could have restricted them more but Ben [Stokes] played a good innings.

“We were quite happy at the break. We thought if we got a start we can get it but that didn’t happen.

“We still has a partnership. When [Rishabh] Pant and [Hardik] Pandya were in there we thought we had a decent chance. But England were better on the day.”