Man with run-ins is the MoM

Packed off from his cricket academy at Leeward Islands five years ago for indiscipline, and later suspended midway through an 8216;A8217; tour, Morton 8212; a native of tiny island Nevis in the Caribbean 8212; has fewer, not the least fonder, memories of the Champions Trophy.

Feinting an excuse of a grandmother8217;s funeral in the 2002 edition, Morton had mysteriously asked to return home from Sri Lanka. But he didn8217;t seek any hide-out here at the Brabourne, though like his first impact innings in the Tests when he defied Shane Bond in his speeding prime for a 70-odd after being the last man to be picked on that tour, this one too came when he was drafted in as a replacement for an indisposed Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

A brutal drive which matched the pace with which Brett Lee had bowled and a contrasting flick off Symonds punctuated the 28-year-old8217;s determined running wih Lara as the two combined for a century partnership which resurrected the total from a familiar top-order collapse.

Lara has been rueing these frequent breakdowns once his openers8212; mainly Gayle 8212; get snapped up, but found an ally unexpectedly in Morton, as they set about mending another wreckage which read 63/4. Morton offered one looping skier, which Ricky Ponting, who saw little go his way on the field, fumbled when on 41, but stood steady when Lara started his acceleration.

For someone known for his many run-ins with authorities, Wednesday was a welcome instance of some handy runs.