| 0.0 : TOSS - The coin goes up and lands in favour of England. They have elected to BOWLÂ first. |
| England (Unchanged Playing XI) - Jos Buttler (C) (WK), Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Liam Livingstone, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood. |
| Ireland (Playing XI) - Paul Stirling, Andy Balbirnie (C), Lorcan Tucker (WK), Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Fionn Hand (In place of Simi Singh), Barry McCarthy, Josh Little. |
| Andy Balbirnie, the skipper of Ireland says that they would have chased as well with rain around but adds that they need to do their best now. Tells that they need to come out with aggression and a positive approach against the top-class bowlers. Tells that they have played a practice game here and they will try to make special memories just liked they did in Hobart. Says that they have happy memories of the 2011 World Cup and adds that they would like to replicate the same in MCG. Informs they |
| There is always some spice when these two neighbours go head-to-head in any sports but for now we have to deal with rain, it is drizzling at the moment and covers have come on. It is not that hard though and players are standing near the fence. Also, the spectators are not using their umbrellas either, so we can expect to start soon. |
| Now then, the players are walking on the field for the national anthems. The pitch is still covered though and we are ready for the anthems now. We will have England's anthem first which will be followed by the Irish one. |
| The anthems are done but we will have a slight delay here. The game will start at 9.45 am IST (4.15 am GMT). |
| Update - 9.43Â am IST (4.13Â am GMT) - Just when we were about to start, the rain is back again. It is that kind of day here in Melbourne, hopefully we will have better news soon. As of now, the start of the game is delayed further. |
| Jos Buttler, the skipper of England says that they will bowl first and the weather has influenced his decision to bowl first. Shares that this a huge game for them. Adds that they have set high fielding standards considering the huge playing fields in Australia. Informs that they are going with the same team as the last game. |
| 0.1 : Ben Stokes to Paul Stirling, Starts with a length ball on off, Paul Stirling defends it out solidly. A dot to start with. |
| 0.2 : Ben Stokes to Paul Stirling, Slightly shorter this time, Paul Stirling slices it away to backward point and gets off the mark. They cross. |
| 0.3 : Ben Stokes to Andy Balbirnie, Goes outside off, Andy Balbirnie guides it to backward point for a brace. |
| 0.4 : Ben Stokes to Andy Balbirnie, Good length angling it away, Andy Balbirnie defends it back towards Ben Stokes. |
| 0.0 : The rain has cleared! The English players are on the field and the Irish openers, Andy Balbirnie and Paul Stirling are walking into the middle as well. Ben Stokes to start with the ball. Here we go... |
| 0.5 : Ben Stokes to Andy Balbirnie, Bowls it outside off, a bit fuller too. Andy Balbirnie leaves it alone. |
| 0.6 : Ben Stokes to Andy Balbirnie, On a length and on middle angling it into the batter, Andy Balbirnie awkwardly defends it away. A dot to end the over. |
| Chris Woakes to share the new ball with Ben Stokes! |
| 1.1 : Chris Woakes to Paul Stirling, FOUR! Full and swinging away from the batter, Stirling opens the bat face and guides it past backward point for his first boundary. Good timing and placement from Paul Stirling! |
| 1.2 : Chris Woakes to Paul Stirling, WIDE! Full and going away, Stirling makes room to slice it but fails to make any contact. The umpire calls it a wide. Woakes is getting some good shape with this new ball. |
| Chris Woakes to Paul Stirling, Short of a length outside off, Paul Stirling tries to defend it off the backfoot and gets beaten. |
| 1.3 : Chris Woakes to Paul Stirling, Full outside off, Paul Stirling moves away and carves this one in the air through the offside. The batters come back for three. |
| Â Update - 9.56 am IST (4.26 am GMT) - The rain is back! It is heavier this time and players are running off the field as covers come on. This could be a longer delay and there is high chance now that we lose some overs if the rain continues to put on a show here. |
| Update - 10.11 am IST (4.41 am GMT) - The rain has eased out, and the covers are off. Let's hope we have a start soon. Fingers crossed. |
| We are back! No overs have been lost yet and the the English players and Irish openers are back on the field as well. Chris Woakes to resume his over. Here we go... |
| 1.4 : Chris Woakes to Andy Balbirnie, Full and shaping away on off, Andy Balbirnie drives it uppishly towards point. |
| 1.5 : Chris Woakes to Andy Balbirnie, Back of a length on middle, Balbirnie gets rapped on the thigh as he went for the flick. |
| 1.6 : Chris Woakes to Andy Balbirnie, FOUR! Good length swinging away from the batter. Balbirnie makes room to free his arms and slices this one over covers for his first boundary. The ball went to the boundary even after Balbirnie got it off the bottom part of the bat. |
| Mark Wood is into the attack now. |
| 2.1 : Mark Wood to Paul Stirling, SIX! Dropped! Shorter one on off, Paul Stirling looks to pull it but gets a top edge. The ball goes towards third man. The fielder at the third man takes a catch but he was in contact with the ropes. A good try from the fielder but its a maximum. |
| 2.2 : Mark Wood to Paul Stirling, Play and a miss. This one lands outside off, Paul Stirling looks to play at it but misses. |
| 2.3 : Mark Wood to Paul Stirling, OUT! CAUGHT! Shorter again, outside off. Paul Stirling looks to slap it but miscues it to third man. The ball goes in the air. Sam Curran settles under it and pouches it comfortably with both hands. England have an early breakthrough in the game. Paul Stirling makes his way back into the hut. |
| 2.4 : Mark Wood to Lorcan Tucker, Shorter again, on off. Lorcan Tucker fends it towards the off side for one. |
| 2.3 : Lorcan Tucker walks out at number 3! |
| 2.5 : Mark Wood to Andy Balbirnie, Slightly shorter angling it away from the batter, Andy Balbirnie gets beaten off the outside edge. |
| 2.6 : Mark Wood to Andy Balbirnie, FOUR WIDES! This one lands shorter and on leg, Andy Balbirnie ducks it. Buttler dives to his left and half-stops it. While the batters take a run off it, Buttler misses the shy at the bowler's end and allows the batters to run through for a couple more. Wide called as well. |
| Mark Wood to Lorcan Tucker, Back of a length and outside off, Lorcan Tucker looks to play at it but misses. |
| 3.1 : Chris Woakes to Andy Balbirnie, Back of a length on leg, Andy Balbirnie clips it off the bac kfoot to square leg for a single. |
| 3.2 : Chris Woakes to Lorcan Tucker, FOUR! Smart batting by Tucker. Good length delivery outside off, Tucker knows the fielder behind square is inside the circle. He shuffles across and scoops it over short fine leg for a boundary. |
| 3.3 : Chris Woakes to Lorcan Tucker, Full on leg, Lorcan Tucker flicks this one to deep square leg for a run. The batters wanted a second but decided against it. |
| 3.4 : Chris Woakes to Andy Balbirnie, Slower and back of a length outside off, Andy Balbirnie taps it to backward point and takes a single. |
| 3.5 : Chris Woakes to Lorcan Tucker, Short of a length on middle, Tucker shimmies down the track to work it on the off side and gets beaten. |
| 3.6 : Chris Woakes to Lorcan Tucker, FOUR! Poor delivery by Woakes. Bowls it short without much pace, Lorcan Tucker makes room and smashes this one past the ring on the off side for the second boundary of the over. |
| 4.1 : Mark Wood to Andy Balbirnie, Slightly shorter and on off, Andy Balbirnie hands back and defends it out. |
| 0.0 : Andy Balbirnie seems to be in some pain here. He has hurt his right hand's index finger and is getting some treatment from the physio. Looks fine now and we are ready to resume. |
| 4.2 : Mark Wood to Andy Balbirnie, FOUR! On a length and on off, Andy Balbirnie shuffles across and smashes it over point for a boundary! |
| 4.3 : Mark Wood to Andy Balbirnie, Shorter one this time, Andy Balbirnie ducks underneath it. |
| 4.4 : Mark Wood to Andy Balbirnie, Slightly shorter and down leg, Andy Balbirnie looks to flick it but gets his thigh. The ball rolls towards the left of the keeper. They cross for a leg bye. |
| 4.5 : Mark Wood to Lorcan Tucker, Shorter and on leg, Lorcan Tucker pulls it to short fine leg for one. |
| 4.6 : Mark Wood to Andy Balbirnie, Bowls it outside off, Andy Balbirnie guides it to third man for a brace. 8 runs off the over. |
| 5.1 : Sam Curran to Lorcan Tucker, Short down the leg side, Lorcan Tucker tucks this one behind square for a couple of runs. |
| 0.0 : Sam Curran is brought into the attack now. |
| 5.3 : Sam Curran to Lorcan Tucker, Back of a length on middle, Tucker gets beaten as he tried to open the bat face and play it fine. |
| 5.2 : Sam Curran to Lorcan Tucker, FOUR! DISPATCHED! Low full toss on off, Tucker moves away and drills it past Ben Stokes at mid off. Stokes went to his left first and then dived to his right but failed to stop it. |
| 5.4 : Sam Curran to Lorcan Tucker, Short and at the body, Lorcan Tucker works it gently towards square leg and collects a brace. |
| 5.5 : Sam Curran to Lorcan Tucker, Banged in short by Curran, Tucker fails to get bat on it as he looked to ramp it over the keeper. |
| 6.1 : Adil Rashid to Andy Balbirnie, FOUR! Fine shot. A low full toss wide outside off, Andy Balbirnie slices it over point for a boundary! |
| 6.2 : Adil Rashid to Andy Balbirnie, On off, fuller in length. Andy Balbirnie guides it to short third man for one. |
| 5.6 : Sam Curran to Lorcan Tucker, SIX! STRAIGHT HIT! Lorcan Tucker advances down the track and converts a good delivery into a full one. Lofts this one with a straight bat towards long on for his first six of the game. Ireland are 59 for one after the Powerplay! |
| 6.3 : Adil Rashid to Lorcan Tucker, Tossed up with a hint of turn, Lorcan Tucker defends it back towards the bowler. |
| 6.4 : Adil Rashid to Lorcan Tucker, Fuller and down leg, Lorcan Tucker looks to sweep it but misses and gets his pads. A stifled appeal turned down. |
| 6.5 : Adil Rashid to Lorcan Tucker, Fuller one again, Lorcan Tucker nudges it to mid-wicket for one. |
| 6.6 : Adil Rashid to Andy Balbirnie, Bowls it outside off, Andy Balbirnie guides it straight towards the fielder at point. |
| 7.1 : Ben Stokes to Lorcan Tucker, Good length delivery outside off, Andy Balbirnie advances and pokes it at it but misses. |
| 0.0 : Ben Stokes is back on. Can he break this partnership? |
| 7.2 : Ben Stokes to Lorcan Tucker, Back of a length and around off. Tucker opens the bat face and dabs it down to backward point. |
| 7.3 : Ben Stokes to Lorcan Tucker, Back of a length on leg, Tucker helps it towards fine leg for a single. |
| 7.4 : Ben Stokes to Andy Balbirnie, Full outside off, Andy Balbirnie jams it towards deep point for a single. |
| 7.5 : Ben Stokes to Lorcan Tucker, Bumper outside off, Lorcan Tucker shuffles across and pulls it towards deep mid wicket for a single. |
| 7.6 : Ben Stokes to Andy Balbirnie, Good length on off, Andy Balbirnie taps it on the off side and rushes for a quick single. |
| 8.1 : Adil Rashid to Andy Balbirnie, Fuller one and on off, Andy Balbirnie steers it to long off for one. |
| 8.2 : Adil Rashid to Lorcan Tucker, Goes fuller again, on off. Lorcan Tucker plays a reverse sweep to backward point for one. |
| 8.3 : Adil Rashid to Lorcan Tucker, Fuller length outside the off. Tucker comes down the track and heaves it to mid-wicket for one. 50 partnership up between Lorcan Tucker and Andy Balbirnie. |
| 8.4 : Adil Rashid to Andy Balbirnie, Play and a miss. This one lands outside off, Andy Balbirnie looks to play at it but misses. |
| 8.5 : Adil Rashid to Andy Balbirnie, Tossed up, outside off. Andy Balbirnie drives it to extra covers for a brace. |
| 8.6 : Adil Rashid to Andy Balbirnie, Fuller length and around off. Andy Balbirnie strides forward and pushes it down to long on for one. |
| 9.1 : Chris Woakes to Andy Balbirnie, WIDE! Woakes sprays it down the legside. Good take by Buttler diving to his left as Andy Balbirnie dances down the track while making room to heave it away. |
| Chris Woakes to Andy Balbirnie, FOUR! Short down the leg side, Andy Balbirnie uses the pace and works it behind square leg for a boundary. The fielder in the deep ran to his right but could not prevent the boundary. |
| 9.2 : Chris Woakes to Andy Balbirnie, Short on off, Andy Balbirnie knocks it off the back foot to mid-wicket for a single. |
| 9.3 : Chris Woakes to Lorcan Tucker, Slower and at the body, Lorcan Tucker works it to fine leg for a single. |
| 9.4 : Chris Woakes to Andy Balbirnie, FOUR! Slower and into the wicket, Andy Balbirnie creates the pace by advancing down the track and smashes this one over deep mid-wicket for the second boundary of the over. The fielder in the deep was standing a few yards in from the boundary. |
| 9.5 : Chris Woakes to Andy Balbirnie, SIX! Short and at the batter, Andy Balbirnie picks it up from his hip and deposits this one over fine leg for a maximum. This is turning out to be a very expensive over by Chris Woakes. |
| 9.6 : Chris Woakes to Andy Balbirnie, Back of a length on middle, Andy Balbirnie drops it on the off side and takes a single. This 18-run over is now the most expensive over of the innings. |
| 10.1 : Liam Livingstone to Andy Balbirnie, Slightly shorter and outside off, Andy Balbirnie taps it to point for one. |
| 10.2 : Liam Livingstone to Lorcan Tucker, This one lands down leg, Lorcan Tucker flicks it to mid-wicket for one again. |
| 0.0 : Drinks break. This has been a fantastic start for the Irish. They have gone about their business with a fearless attitude despite losing Paul Stirling early and now have a good platform to set a huge total here. English bowlers, on the other hand, have been pretty ordinary and need to tighten up, if they want to make their way back into this game. An interesting phase of the game coming up as Liam Livingstone is introduced into the attack. |
| 10.3 : Liam Livingstone to Andy Balbirnie, Fuller one on off, Andy Balbirnie eases it to covers for one more. |
| 10.4 : Liam Livingstone to Lorcan Tucker, Another single as this is played towards mid on. |
| 10.5 : Liam Livingstone to Andy Balbirnie, Play and a miss. This one lands on leg, Andy Balbirnie looks to sweep it but misses as he ball hits his thigh pad. Dot. |
| 10.6 : Liam Livingstone to Andy Balbirnie, Fuller and on off, Andy Balbirnie sweeps it to square leg for one. |
| 11.1 : Adil Rashid to Andy Balbirnie, Full and on middle, Andy Balbirnie shuffles and drills it through extra covers for a couple. |
| 11.2 : Adil Rashid to Andy Balbirnie, Flighted on off, Andy Balbirnie gets forward and works it to long on for a single. |
| 11.3 : Adil Rashid to Lorcan Tucker, Flighted on middle, Lorcan Tucker gets on his knee and sweeps it to square leg for a run. |
| 11.4 : Adil Rashid to Andy Balbirnie, Flatter at the pads, Andy Balbirnie nudges it to deep mid wicket for a single. |
| 11.5 : Adil Rashid to Lorcan Tucker, Tossed up outside off, Lorcan Tucker shimmies down the track to slog it down the ground. Gets an inside edge that rolls towards square leg. |
| 11.6 : Adil Rashid to Andy Balbirnie, OUT! UNLUCKY DISMISSAL! Floated on off, Andy Balbirnie hits it straight back towards the bowler. Rashid gets a hand on it on its way to the stumps. Lorcan Tucker is out of his crease as the ball hits the stumps. A much-needed wicket for England. Lorcan Tucker is disappointed and rightly so, he was looking pretty confident out there in the middle. |
| 12.1 : Mark Wood to Harry Tector, On a length and outside off, Harry Tector looks to defend it but misses. |
| 0.0 : Harry Tector walks out to the middle as Mark Wood is back into the attack as well. Buttler sensing an opportunity here! |
| 12.2 : Mark Wood to Harry Tector, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! This one lands on a length and just outside off, Harry Tector looks to loft it but gets a thin outside edge. The ball goes safely into the gloves of Jos Buttler and Ireland lose two wickets in quick succession. Credit should be given to Buttler as well for bringing in Wood straightaway after the wicket. |
| Curtis Campher is the next man in. |
| 12.3 : Mark Wood to Curtis Campher, Wide! Bowls it outside leg, Curtis Campher lets it go. |
| Mark Wood to Curtis Campher, FOUR! Fine shot. Fuller and outside off, Curtis Campher slices it over backward point for a boundary. Ireland needs to regroup now. |
| 12.4 : Mark Wood to Curtis Campher, Shorter one on middle, Curtis Campher looks to pull it but the ball hits his helmet and bounces off the deck. |
| 12.5 : Mark Wood to Curtis Campher, Slightly shorter and outside off, Curtis Campher guides it to backward point for one. |
| 12.4 : Curtis Campher has been hit on his helmet! We will have a mandatory concussion test now. He looks fine to continue now and we are ready to resume. |
| 12.6 : Mark Wood to Andy Balbirnie, A dot to end the over. Bowls it on a length and on middle, Andy Balbirnie defends it to backward point. |
| 13.1 : Adil Rashid to Curtis Campher, Floated outside off, Curtis Campher knocks it to long off for a single. |
| 13.2 : Adil Rashid to Andy Balbirnie, Flighted on off, Andy Balbirnie taps it on the off and gets a single. |
| 13.3 : Adil Rashid to Curtis Campher, Tossed up outside off, Curtis Campher shuffles across and slog sweeps it to deep square leg for a single. |
| 13.4 : Adil Rashid to Andy Balbirnie, Full on off, Andy Balbirnie gets forward and clips it to mid wicket for a single to bring up a well-composed fifty. His 8th fifty in the T20I's! |
| 13.5 : Adil Rashid to Curtis Campher, Wrong-un on middle, Curtis Campher doesn't read it and gets an inside edge as he tried to cut. The batters take a single as the ball rolls on the off side. |
| 13.6 : Adil Rashid to Andy Balbirnie, Flighted outside off, Andy Balbirnie slaps this one wide of long off for a couple of runs more. |
| Sam Curran is back on. |
| 14.1 : Sam Curran to Curtis Campher, Campher makes room and Curran follows him. This is full and on the pads. Campher tries to clip it but misses as the ball hits his pads. A leg bye is taken. |
| 14.2 : Sam Curran to Andy Balbirnie, On a length and around off. Andy Balbirnie makes room and slaps it to sweeper cover for a couple. |
| 14.3 : Sam Curran to Andy Balbirnie, SIX! Wow! The Irish skipper is turning it on! A shortish delivery on off. Andy Balbirnie stays deep in his crease and pulls it fimly and deep into the stands over the square leg fence. |
| 14.4 : Sam Curran to Andy Balbirnie, Back of a length and angling across the batter, around off. Andy Balbirnie tries to cut it but misses. |
| 14.5 : Sam Curran to Andy Balbirnie, Serves it fuller this time angling into the pads. Andy Balbirnie clips it to deep backward square leg for a couple. |
| 14.6 : Sam Curran to Andy Balbirnie, Back of a length and around off. Andy Balbirnie makes room and tries to swing it across the line but misses. |
| 15.1 : Liam Livingstone to Curtis Campher, FOUR! Boundaries continue to flow here! This is tossed up on middle. Campher gets a bit across to his right and scoops it past short fine leg for a boundary. Excellent batsmanship! |
| 15.2 : Liam Livingstone to Curtis Campher, Shortish length, on off. Campher makes room and cuts it to deep point for a single. |
| 15.3 : Liam Livingstone to Andy Balbirnie, OUT! CAUGHT! Andy Balbirnie holes out in the deep! Truly against the run of play this but England will take it. Brilliant knock from Andy Balbirnie comes to an end. This is slower through the air again, on off. Andy Balbirnie sweeps and sweeps quite well but it goes aerially and straight to Alex Hales at fine leg. He takes an easy catch and England continue to take wickets after the 10-over mark! |
| 15.4 : Liam Livingstone to George Dockrell, OUT! BOWLED! Two in two for Liam Livingstone and he is absolutely pumped up! Another tossed up delivery on middle. George Dockrell facing his first delivery, makes some room and tries to drive it. However, he misses it completely and the ball goes onto knock the stumps. England are making a strong comeback here! Liam Livingstone is on a hat-trick! |
| 15.3 : George Dockrell walks in. |
| 15.4 : Gareth Delany is the new batter. Liam Livingstone is on a hat-trick. Can he take it? |
| 15.5 : Liam Livingstone to Gareth Delany, No hat-trick! Liam fires this on middle. Gareth Delany manages to get his bat down in time. |
| 15.6 : Liam Livingstone to Gareth Delany, A flatter one on middle. Gareth Delany clips it to the leg side and gets off the mark with a single. |
| 16.1 : Mark Wood to Gareth Delany, Back of a length, on leg. Delany works it to fine leg for a single. |
| 16.2 : Mark Wood to Curtis Campher, FOUR! Handy boundary for Ireland, this will ease some pressue. Pacy delivery at 148 kph. Lands on a length, on off. Campher gets across to his right and uses the pace of the ball to scoop it over short fine leg for a boundary. |
| 16.3 : Mark Wood to Curtis Campher, OUT! CAUGHT! Mark Wood strikes again! A sharp catch from Buttler behind the stumps as well and Irish are losing their way here. Wood delivers a short delivery, around leg. Campher tries to pull it but does not get much bat on it and just enough to hit it left of Buttler. The English skipper dives and takes a brilliant catch and Ireland are six down now. |
| Mark Adair is the next batter. |
| 16.4 : Mark Wood to Mark Adair, Just short! A fullish delivery, outside off. Adair slices it uppishly towards third man and the fielder in the deep runs forward and dives to take it. However, the ball falls just ahead of him. Single taken. |
| 16.5 : Mark Wood to Gareth Delany, FOUR! Lovely shot! Wood delivers another full delivery, outside off. Delany opens the face of his blade and creams it through the backward point region for a boundary. |
| 16.6 : Mark Wood to Gareth Delany, Oh, Wood hits another batter on the helmet! A bouncer angling into middle. Delany tries to duck under it but the ball is too quick and does not bounce much as it hits his helmet. A leg bye is taken though as the ball deflects towards fine leg. |
| 17.1 : Liam Livingstone to Gareth Delany, Tossed up, outside off. Delany drives it to deep point for a single. |
| 0.0 : There is a concussion protocol being followed by the Ireland physio as Gareth Delany gets a hit on his helmet. The test is complete and we are good to go. |
| 17.2 : Liam Livingstone to Mark Adair, Floated up on middle. Adair drives it to long on for a single. |
| 17.3 : Liam Livingstone to Gareth Delany, A quicker one and flatter as well, on middle. Delany knocks it down towards mid on for a single. |
| 17.4 : Liam Livingstone to Mark Adair, Tad short and angling into middle and leg again. Adair skips down the track and works it to deep mid-wicket for a couple. |
| 17.5 : Liam Livingstone to Mark Adair, OUT! CAUGHT! Liam Livingstone gets his third wicket! He tosses this up nicely, on middle. Adair tries to clear the longer boundary towards the leg side and goes for the slog-sweep. However, he fails to get enough power behind his shot and ends up hitting it to Sam Curran at deep mid-wicket who takes an easy catch. |
| Barry McCarthy walks in. |
| 17.6 : Liam Livingstone to Barry McCarthy, Loopy delivery, outside off. Barry McCarthy drives it to deep point for a single. 150 up for Ireland! |
| 18.1 : Sam Curran to Barry McCarthy, A slower length delivery on the pads. Barry McCarthy clips it to deep mid-wicket and comes back for the second run. Good running. |
| 18.2 : Fionn Hand is the next batter. |
| 18.3 : Sam Curran to Fionn Hand, A slower length ball on middle. Hand makes room and dabs it towards the off side for a quick single. |
| 18.4 : Sam Curran to Gareth Delany, Goes 'round the wicket and bowls a shortish delivery angling into off. Delany tries to pull it but misses. |
| 18.5 : Sam Curran to Gareth Delany, Oh, dear...that it poor from Wood! Back of a length and around off. Delany guides it to short third man where Wood fails to get down in time and the batters take three as the ball rolls towards the third man fence before the fielder cuts it off. |
| 18.6 : Sam Curran to Fionn Hand, OUT! BOWLED! Curran hits his target again and Hand has to walk back to the hut now. Curran comes 'round the wicket again and bowls a length delivery angling into the stumps. Hand makes room and tries to play the inside-out shot. He misses and the ball knocks over the stumps. |
| 19.1 : Ben Stokes to Gareth Delany, A fullish delivery, outside off. Delany slices it to deep point for a single. |
| 18.6 : Josh Little is the last batter. Ben Stokes to bowl the final over. |
| 19.2 : Ben Stokes to Josh Little, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Stokes gets the last wicket and Ireland have been bowled out for 157! Stokes lands a good-length delivery, around off. Little tries to push it towards the off side. However, the ball catches the thin outside edge of his blade and Buttler takes an easy catch behind the stumps. Brilliant comeback by England this! |
| Sam Curran to Barry McCarthy, OUT! BOWLED! Another one bites the dust! Sam Curran nails a yorker this time. It is on middle and Barry McCarthy makes room to hit it towards the off side. He misses and the ball shatters the stumps. Eight down now Ireland and the question is, can they get to 165-run mark from here? |
| England, unfortunately, failed to take full advantage of the new ball in overcast conditions. They resorted to short-pitched bowling and paid the price. After dismissing Tucker in the 12th over, England clawed their way back into the game with some quick wickets. Liam Livingstone and Mark Wood combined to account for six Irish wickets bagging three each whilst Sam Curran took two. |
| So, Ireland end up with 157 on the board. Ireland will be disappointed that they let it slip from a strong position with the bat. Jos Buttler will be happy with the way the bowlers brought them back into the game. Having been sent into bat first, Ireland's batters did a great job of not losing more than one wicket in the powerplay. The pair of Andrew Balbirnie and Lorcan Tucker kept the scoreboard ticking in testing conditions against the moving new ball. Once the 82-run stand was broken, Irela |
| Mark Wood is in for a chat now. He says that they did not bowl well. Shares that the he was worried about landing due to wet and greasy conditions. Reckons that they bowled too many full deliveries and did not have the intensity at the start. Adds that 157 is a good score to chase. Credits Liam Livingstone for his brilliant spell. Feels that he bowled with some good speed but could have been better. |
| Right then, England will be hoping for a clinical chasing effort this time round, while Andy Balbirnie will be hoping for some early inroads from his new ball bowlers. Chase coming up in a bit⦠|
| ... The Run Chase ... |
| We are back for the chase. Ireland players are seen out in a huddle near the ropes. |
Google +
Facebook
Twitter
Whatsapp