T20 World Cup 2022: Updated Points table after IRE vs ENG and NZ vs AFG game

The iconic venue of MCG produced another memorable clash as Ireland pulled off one of the results of the tournament after edging past neighbors and pre-tournament favorites England in a rain-marred affair in Melbourne in the ongoing T20 World Cup.

Jos Buttler's side bowled first in the match after winning the toss but were under the pump after a brisk start by Paul Stirling and skipper Andrew Balbirnie. Although Stirling was dismissed by the menacing Mark Wood, his skipper continued with his assault on the English bowlers. 

Despite Balbirnie's well-compiled half-century, England bowlers pulled things back nicely to restrict Ireland to a par score of 157 runs after a frantic start. But the Englishmen could not take advantage of their strong finish to the first innings as they lost skipper Jos Buttler for a two ball duck in the first over.

His opening partner Alex Hales followed suit in the third over as Joshua Little put on a scintillating bowling display with the new ball. He was complimented valiantly by Mark Adair, who was unlucky to go wicketless in his two overs. England's red-ball skipper Ben Stokes was then cleaned up by a peach as the pressure mounted on Buttler's men inside the powerplay.

Dawid Malan and Harry Brook stitched a valuable partnership after those early blows but looked sluggish in the middle. But the introduction of Moeen Ali in the game threatened Ireland's cause before rain intervened to end England's hopes of a win. The Irish were pumped after their victory set things up nicely for the gigantic clash between Australia and England at the MCG on Friday.

Unfortunately, the persistent rain was too much for the ground staff to handle as the second game at the venue between table-toppers New Zealand and Afghanistan was abandoned. Both sides had to settle for a point. 

Here's how the T20 World Cup 2022 Points Table stands in Groups 1