Moeen’s century gives England first points at World Cup

England completed a clinical 119-run victory over Scotland in their cricket World Cup Pool A match at Hagley Oval to record their first win in the tournament.

After they were crushed in their opening games by co-hosts Australia and New Zealand, England posted 303 for eight after being asked to bat then dismissed Scotland for 184 from 47.2 overs on a day which began under dark clouds and concluded in bright sunshine.

Moeen Ali (128) produced a stream of delightful drives to reach his second ODI century and shared a 172-run opening partnership with Ian Bell (54) to give England a grip on that match they were never to relinqish.

Although wickets fell regularly after their departures, captain Eoin Morgan at last found some form to strike 46 with four boundaries and two sixes and guide his team past the 300 mark.

After the interval, England’s pace attack, which had been slaughtered by New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum in Wellington last Friday, took control.

Opener Kyle Coetzer took two boundaries off James Anderson’s opening over and continued to drive and cut confidently to reach his half-century off 64 balls.

Runs dried up at the other end against disciplined bowling and his dismissal for 71 with 11 boundaries was the beginning of the end.

Ali took two for 47 from 10 overs, bowling in tandem with another occasional off-spinner Joe Root, as the wickets fell and the required run rate rose.

Scorecard:

England 303-8 in 50 overs (Ali 138, Davey 4-68)

Scotland 184 all out in 42.2 overs (Coetzer 71, Finn 3-26)