EOIN MORGAN is proud of a great achievement after recording his maiden Test hundred at only the third attempt.

The 23-year-old Irishman shared a record unbroken double-century stand with Paul Collingwood, reaching stumps on 125 to his partner’s 81 out of 331 for four on day one of the four-match npower series at Trent Bridge.

The recovery they engineered for England was much needed at 118 for four, after Andrew Strauss had chosen to bat first under cloud cover and teenager Mohammad Aamer (three for 39) had once again shown what a dangerous bowler he already is.

Morgan began cautiously but rarely looked in any trouble, save for an edge short of the wicketkeeper on five and an lbw escape to Danish Kaneria via the decision review system on 78.

He went on to reach his century with a resounding straight six off Shoaib Malik, confirming to the doubters that he surely does have what it takes to succeed at Test as well as limited-overs international level.

‘‘It’s extremely satisfying, to score a Test match hundred in only my third game,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s a great achievement, and I’m very proud of myself.

‘‘The feeling of getting to three figures was fantastic.

‘‘It was a huge moment in my career.’’ Morgan had not planned to go to his hundred with a six - but was delighted to accept the invitation to do so.

‘‘I was glad when he lobbed it up.

‘‘I wasn’t even in that frame of mind, because they’d brought the field up – and I wasn’t expecting him to dart it in.

‘‘But when he threw it up I freed my hands and threw everything at it.’’ Much hard work had preceded that moment, for both Morgan and Collingwood.

‘‘The major fact of my innings was I allowed myself to get in, in difficult circumstances,’’ he said.

‘‘Paul and I set up a great platform for ourselves, getting past that swing - and then took advantage when the wicket went flat and the ball a bit soft.’’ Morgan made it clear too that he for one has never had any concerns about his ability to translate his Twenty20 and 50-over knack to five-day cricket.

‘‘I don’t think I have any doubt about my talent. I’m quite a confident player, and a guy who likes expressing himself.’’ Pakistan did not help themselves, wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal in particular having a tough time – dropping a straightforward catch to reprieve Strauss early on and then missing an even easier stumping when Collingwood was on 48.

It was Akmal too who was entrusted with the responsibility of Pakistan’s DRS policy – which went wrong when they blew both their permitted failed chances within two overs shortly after lunch.

Umar Amin was not a central player, but it was left to him to confirm: ‘‘We were in a good position, but unfortunately we gave it away.

‘‘Eoin Morgan played a fantastic innings.’’ Amin was not ideally placed for either of Pakistan’s failed reviews against Kevin Pietersen but said: ‘‘I thought at the time they were out.

‘‘I just consider it a hard day at the office.’’

Scoreboard

England v Pakistan At Trent Bridge

England Won Toss England First Innings Close

A J Strauss c Kamran Akmal b Aamer ..45

A N Cook c Imran Farhat b Aamer ........ 8

I J Trott lbw b Aamer ..............................38

K P Pietersen b Mohammad Asif .......... 9

P D Collingwood not out ......................81

E J Morgan not out ............................125

Extras (b5 lb8 w5 nb7 pens 0) 25

Total 4 wkts (90 overs)...........331

Fall: 1-42 2-93 3-116 4-118

To Bat: M J Prior, G P Swann, S C J Broad, J M Anderson, S T Finn.

Bowling: Aamer 19-4-39-3. Mohammad Asif 20-6-65-1. Umar Gul 16-4-58-0. Danish Kaneria 21-0-100-0. Shoaib Malik 11-2-39- 0. Azhar Ali 1-0-9-0. Amin 1-0-3-0. Imran Farhat 1-0-5-0.