Ireland outclass England to complete memorable victory

Captain Andy Balbirnie scored a valuable half-century to help his side to a competitive total of 157 before a team bowling performance, led by Josh Little's 2 for 16, and some late rain secured the two points

Melbourne: Ireland 157, England 105-5 - Ireland won by five runs (DLS)

Scorecard

An impressive team bowling performance and the Melbourne rain combined to steer Ireland to a memorable five-run victory over England in the 2022 T20 World Cup.

The only previous T20I meeting between the two sides was also disrupted by the weather: at the 2010 T20 World Cup, Ireland restricted England to 120 for 8 in the Caribbean before their chase was cut short after 3.3 overs. On this occasion, however, the rain held off long enough for a DLS result.

A half-century for captain Andy Balbirnie, his eighth in 84 T20Is, helped Ireland to a competitive total of 157 before regular wickets disrupted England's chase.

Chasing 158, Josh Little (2 for 16) bagged two wickets in as many overs to remove Jos Buttler – the captain caught behind for a two-ball duck – and Alex Hales before Fionn Hand, coming into the side in place of Simi Singh, bowled Ben Stokes for six. England finished the powerplay on 37 for 3, 22 runs behind Ireland at the same stage.

^{Andrew Balbirnie scored a crucial half-century for Ireland [Darrian Traynor/Getty Images]}

Harry Brook and Dawid Malan steered England to 63 for 3 at the halfway mark but both players were gifted lifelines after drinks, with the former dropped by Mark Adair and the latter by Gareth Delany in the space of two balls. Brook, however, couldn't make Ireland pay, with Delany holding on to one later in the over to give George Dockrell (1 for 5) a deserved wicket.

Moeen Ali was just beginning to motor, dispatching Delany for a six and a four in the 15th over before the match was brought to a premature halt, leaving England's vice-captain stranded on 24 off 12.

Earlier, following a rain-disrupted start in Melbourne, Ireland made a bright start their innings. Despite losing Paul Stirling in the third over (caught by Sam Curran off Mark Wood for 14), they raced to 59 for 1 at the end of the powerplay.

Ireland's batters took a particular liking to Curran and Chris Woakes, dispatching their combined three overs for 37.

Adil Rashid and Stokes wrestled back momentum before Balbirnie once again took a fancy to Woakes, taking 18 runs off the tenth over: Ireland 92 for 1 at drinks.

Rashid eventually made the breakthrough in the 12th, getting a slight touch to run out Lorcan Tucker (34 off 27) at the non-striker's and end a dangerous 82-run (57 balls) second-wicket stand.

^{Fionn Hand celebrates the wicket of Ben Stokes in the final over of the powerplay [Robert Cianflone/Getty Images]}

Two balls later, Wood accounted for Harry Tector (caught Buttler), and after another loose over from Curran, which cost 13 runs, England well and truly took control of proceedings.

Liam Livingstone struck twice in two balls to remove Balbirnie – caught by Hales for 62 (47) – and Dockrell while Wood accounted for Curtis Campher. Livingstone grabbed his third in the 18th, dismissing Adair, before Curran and Stokes wrapped up the innings with four balls unused, picking up the remaining three wickets in the space of seven deliveries.

Ireland were all out for 157, with nine wickets falling for 54 runs. Livingstone finished with figures of 3 for 17 while Wood returned 3 for 34.