Tie continues England's white-ball revival

With one heavy swing of his bat, Liam Plunkett kept England's breathless revival in limited-overs cricket bang on track as Eoin Morgan's side stole a thrilling tie in the opening one-day international against Sri Lanka at Trent Bridge.

Plunkett's assault that sent Nuwan Pradeep's final ball of the match high into the Nottingham night sky represented more than just the six runs that saw Morgan's men equal Sri Lanka's total of 286. It was also a significant blow for a group of players who have finally given England something to shout about in short-form cricket.

England have evolved significantly since their miserable World Cup campaign in Australia and New Zealand 15 months ago.

Back then a defeat to Bangladesh in Adelaide set the seal on a first-round exit, yet another pathetic effort at a major global tournament. It was embarrassing.

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Morgan, though, has survived as captain and the progress both in 50-over and T20 cricket has been remarkable.

In the past year, England have posted their first 400-plus score in one-day cricket (against New Zealand at Edgbaston last June), chased down their record ODI score (the 350 they pursued against New Zealand at Trent Bridge), hit their highest-ever 50-over total overseas (399 against South Africa in Bloemfontein in February) and completed the record run chase – 230 – in the history of the World T20 when beating South Africa at Mumbai in March.

This was England’s first limited-overs international since they lost the World T20 final against West Indies in April, Carlos Brathwaite’s four sixes in the final over denying Morgan’s men a surprise tournament victory at the last.

Yet while Plunkett’s final-ball heroics in Nottingham did little to sooth memories of that agonising defeat, it did underline the fact there is rarely a dull moment for this bold, new England.

At one stage Morgan’s team were 6-82 chasing what was a relatively modest target of 287. There were even ironic cheers from a packed Trent Bridge crowd when, with the self-depreciating gallows humour that English cricket fans have become famous for over the years, the home side limped to 100 in the 23rd over.

This was shaping up to be as humiliating as anything that transpired at the last World Cup.

It was almost like going back in time – well 15 months – as England imploded in time-honoured fashion.

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Yet a 138-run stand between Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes revived home hopes and, with 14 needed from the final over and two wickets left, England remarkably still had a chance of winning.

Woakes ran three off the penultimate ball to end the match unbeaten on 95 – the highest score by a number eight in ODI history. Plunkett then did the rest to snatch a tie off the last delivery to send a jubilant Trent Bridge crowd crazy.

Take a bow @liam628. Big six down the ground to draw the match 💪💪 https://t.co/7aJtTVtjHI

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 21, 2016

From the jaws of a hammering that would have perhaps undone much of England’s good work over the past year in short-form cricket, a remarkable result was forged.

It was one that proved this group of England players are made of sterner stuff than many of their predecessors. They were almost Australian in their refusal to give up on what looked like a lost cause.

"When you need 10 off two you’ve got to start clearing the ropes," said Woakes. "They bowled really well but for Plunkett to hit that final ball for six was pretty special."

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Morgan admitted: "We were dead and buried a couple of times in the World T20, but there is a lot of belief in the changing room, particularly with the bat.

"Having got ourselves out of the game with a tie is a big result. It shows great belief. When you talk about belief and trust in a side guys have to back that up, it’s not built on certain ideas. That grows within a side."

While that belief must have grown considerably following this result, Morgan did offer words of caution heading into Friday’s second match of this five-match series in Birmingham.

"We are very lucky to get out of this game with a tie and go to Edgbaston all square," he said. "The general performance was poor. That was as bad as we have performed with the bat over the past year."

Improvement will be needed from here but England have shown over the past year or so in limited-overs cricket that is highly likely.