Morgan praises Woakes’ last-over nerve

England captain Eoin Morgan lauded Chris Woakes’ “brilliant” comeback in the last over in which the seamer sealed their five-run win in Kolkata to narrow the series margin to 2-1. India needed 16 runs off the last over then Kedar Jadhav swung for a six and a four on the first two balls of the over before Woakes came back with four dot balls, including Jadhav’s wicket on the penultimate ball of the over.

“It was brilliant, even with the pressure when the first two balls went for boundaries,” Morgan said. “He managed to get the bloke out and we’re right back into the game. They still needed six off four balls. So a couple of good yorkers, a couple of singles, we were still favourites to win. Thankfully, the man at the boundary [Sam Billings] managed to get rid of him and I thought it was going to take something special to get them across the line with two new batsmen. Credit to Woakes he was there till the end.”

Woakes had started the series with a stifling spell of 5-0-12-0 in Pune before shining as England’s best bowler during the second ODI in Cuttack, reducing India to 25 for 3. On Sunday, he did not impress as much in the first few overs, taken for 11 in the first over, but his second spell lifted India’s asking rate before he finished things off in the last over. Morgan said Woakes was not appreciated as much as he deserved to be.

“He’s been incredible in all forms for the last two …

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