Morgan century puts England in control

EOIN Morgan underpinned England's 331 for four with a maiden Test hundred on day one of the four-match npower series against Pakistan at Trent Bridge.

Morgan (125no) was retained in the team, following two underwhelming innings against Bangladesh at the start of the season, only because of the broken toe Ian Bell suffered in a mid-summer one-day international.

But the Irishman made no mistake at his third attempt to underline his Test credentials, dominating a record unbroken double-century stand with Paul Collingwood (81no) after England had appeared in trouble on 118 for four following three quick wickets either side of lunch.

The fifth-wicket pair held firm against the threat of Mohammad Aamer (three for 39) and Mohammad Asif, both exploiting the cloud cover for Pakistan, before taking toll of back-up bowlers who could not exert necessary control.

Morgan had two moments of fortune, edging Aamer just short of wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal on five and then 73 runs later surviving via the decision review system when luckless leg-spinner Danish Kaneria at last won an lbw decision from Asoka de Silva, only to be informed by third umpire Marais Erasmus that the ball was spinning past the leg-stump from round the wicket.

The left-hander, who has become such a lynchpin for England in limited-overs cricket and even before yesterday was being touted by some as a 'must' for next winter's Ashes, demonstrated unequivocally he can translate his talents to the longer format. There was just one reverse-sweep, expertly executed off Kaneria, among his 16 boundaries in a 151-ball century which arrived in the grand manner with a straight six off Shoaib Malik's off-spin.

Collingwood was rarely fluent but at his best in terms of dependability, to ensure a telling England recovery and provide vindication for Andrew Strauss' borderline decision to bat first under cloudy skies.

England's cause was helped too by Pakistani frailties, notably Akmal behind the stumps and their poor use of DRS. Strauss lost his opening partner Alastair Cook in the first hour and then enjoyed a stroke of luck on 15 thanks to a dropped catch by Akmal off Aamer, but looked set himself until he flapped an edge behind off Aamer to go five runs short of his 50.

Kevin Pietersen survived an lbw on one, then a caught-behind on five, only to fall anyway for just nine when Asif got a ball to snake on to off-stump via a inside edge. Jonathan Trott soon followed, his second review failing to get him off an lbw charge - shouldering arms at Aamer.

Two wickets had fallen for as many runs in successive overs. But after Morgan's early caught-behind scare off Aamer, he and Collingwood dug in. Another glaring mistake from Akmal gave Collingwood a let-off on 48, and more agony for Kaneria, when the wicketkeeper somehow dropped the ball again - this time with the batsman stranded out of his ground, after going down the pitch and missing a leg-break.

Collingwood completed his 114-ball 50 in the same Kaneria over - and by stumps, after England had posted their best fifth-wicket stand against Pakistan, the tourists mostly had themselves to blame for failing to convert early gains.

But it was true too that they had encountered one batsman of renowned durability and another who has taken his biggest step yet towards proving himself world class.