Manchester: England captain Eoin Morgan said he "never thought" he could produce an innings like the one which saw him smash an ODI world record 17 sixes as he made 148 in his side's win over Afghanistan at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
"Never have I ever thought I could play a knock like that. I'm delighted that I have. I think coming in at the time where it was a 50-50 shout whether myself or Jos (Buttler) went in, probably helped that because after I faced a few balls I had no choice. I had to start taking risks because of him coming in next and then after I got dropped (on 28) it was a matter of just keep going. Yeah, one of those days.!," England captain said.
England are now at the top of the points table and will have lost just one game so far in the tournament.
"I think it is. I think certainly going into Friday's game against Sri Lanka, another game where if we can produce the level of intensity at which we operated today, I think it will leave us in a really good place. We made some mistakes today but I thought the level at which we operate, you can't fault," Morgan expressed.
When asked about his thoughts about overtaking Chris Gayle's record he said, "I honestly don't know, it's weird, very strange. It's something like I mentioned, along with the innings, that I never thought I'd do. So it's a nice place to be. I think I'm just becoming a target for guys in the changing room to, you know, take down. The hundred I scored is considered a slow one in our changing room. Guys talk about it all the time. So yeah, tough school."
England targeted leg-spinner Rashid Khan - who finished with the most expensive analysis in World Cup history, 0-110 in nine overs.
"We don't go into any game with any preconceived ideas about how guys can play because anybody can have a bad day. He's (Rashid Khan) obviously a very, very good bowler and we've experienced that before. He's performed extremely well for a long period but like all good players, when you probably learn the most about yourself when your backs are against the wall. It's probably the same case," he added.
Morgan's brilliant innings was the centrepiece of England's 397 for 6 - a total which included 25 sixes, also an ODI world best.
