Jonny Bairstow assault sets platform for England victory despite middle order collapse

NICK FRIEND AT THE AGEAS BOWL: For a period, a window of opportunity opened for Ireland as England lost three wickets for six runs in the middle order but, led by Sam Billings and David Willey, the hosts eased to victory

• England v Ireland: Scorecard
• For Reece Topley, a day to remember

England recovered from a middle order collapse to ease to victory against Ireland at the Ageas Bowl to claim an unassailable 2-0 lead in their three-match ODI series.

After winning the toss, Andrew Balbirnie elected to bat first despite having watched his side struggle with two days previously.

And quickly, a similar story began to unfold; David Willey continued his fine series, dismissing both openers inside his first 19 balls. First, he trapped Gareth Delany on the crease with a delivery that swung late into his pads, before Paul Stirling – in a repeat of Delany’s demise in the first game – sliced to Tom Banton at backward point.

Balbirnie himself was the third man to go – to a most unusual source. He became James Vince’s first international wicket; the Hampshire batsman had been brought into the attack by Eoin Morgan as his second change option. With England fielding just five frontline bowlers, Vince’s medium-pacers were England’s only real variation from the norm. And when he enticed Balbirnie to waft at a short ball, Morgan’s gamble had paid off.

Kevin O’Brien followed just ten balls later, bowled by a fine googly by Adil Rashid, who was at his mesmerising best for long periods. And when Harry Tector slapped the leg-spinner straight to Saqib Mahmood at mid-on, Ireland’s innings looked to be subsiding. From 78 for 5, however, a recovery was staged, with the arrival at the crease of Curtis Campher.

The South Africa-born allrounder made an unbeaten 59 in the first instalment of the three-match series and showed more of that form as he was called on once again to rescue his side. In only his second ODI for Ireland, the early signs would already suggest that a promotion further up the batting order might be in order. His game looks more suitable than some of those higher than him; he played Rashid nicely, while driving strongly and timing his push to perfection.

^{Bairstow struck a rapid 82}

He had already watched from the non-striker’s end as Lorcan Tucker got himself into an ugly tangle while attempting a premeditated sweep shot that only found the hands of Reece Topley at short fine leg.

Campher, meanwhile, continued along his merry way, hammering his way to 68 off 87 balls. Simi Singh (25) and Andy McBrine (24) added more lower order runs to drag the visitors to 212 for 9 from their 50 overs. Topley took his first ODI wicket for four years to end the innings – fine reward for the Surrey left-armer, who bowled beautifully.

In response, England were impetuous from the off. Jason Roy slapped a wide half-volley from Craig Young to cover just three balls into the hosts’ reply to give Balbirnie’s team the ideal start.

Bairstow, though, was in brutal form. By the time Vince had been castled by the all-action Campher, the score had already raced to 71 after just 8.4 overs, with the wicketkeeper-batsman providing most of the fireworks.

Banton soon became the allrounder’s second victim, trapped in front by a sharp, full delivery. In the meantime, Bairstow raced to a 21-ball half century – England’s joint-quickest in ODI history.

But when he fell for 82 – caught behind off Josh Little, complete with a few words for good measure, England threatened to collapse. Morgan and Moeen Ali both fell to Little within three balls of each other without scoring, with Sam Billings – the calm head of the first ODI – left to repeat the trick.

And with Willey for company, they saw England home. Billings ended unbeaten on 46, while Willey made an enterprising, intelligent 47.

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