England v Ireland, 2nd ODI Review: Clinical hosts complete cakewalk win over the Irish side

The Ireland side has been making giant strides in the world of cricket. Hence, a lot was expected from them when they arrived in England for a short 2-match series. The series was their first ever major bilateral series for them in the history of the game. Also, the fact that the Irish were taking on the English only made the contest all the way more interesting.

When the action unfolded, the first match proved to be a single sided affair. England steamrolled the opposition with a thumping win in the first ODI. The second ODI was all about the saving grace for the Irishmen as they had to prove they were ready for the big challenges ahead. The action moved to the iconic Lord’s as the Ireland team made their debut at the venue.

Irish skipper William Porterfield won the toss and opted to bowl first. Clearly, he did not want the action of the first game repeated here where Ireland had batted first. In walked Jason Roy and Alex Hales to open the innings for England. The two openers found it tough going into the game with the ball swinging both ways. Tim Murtagh and Peter Chase bowled exceptional spells first up.

The 49-run opening stand was broken in the 11th over when Murtagh got through the defenses of Hales to send him packing on 32 that came off 35 balls with 6 fours. In walked the in-form batsman Joe Root to join Jason Roy. Roy departed soon after to get skipper Eoin Morgan at the crease. Roy scored 20 off 33 balls with 3 fours before becoming Barry McCarthy’s first wicket of the day. What followed next was all about the hosts.

Root and Morgan looked in sublime form and took the charge on the Irish bowlers. A mammoth 140 run stand followed for the two batsmen. Peter Chase was brought back to the attack and the move worked in the 36th over of the game soon after the English side had breached the 200-run mark. Root departed after scoring a run-a-ball 73 with 8 fours to his name. A couple of overs later, Morgan became McCarthy’s second victim and made the long walk back on 76 that came off 79 balls with 5 fours and a couple of sixes.

Sam Billings walked in to bat at number 6 to join Jonny Bairstow in the middle. Billings departed soon and George Dockrell accounted for his dismissal to bring Adil Rashid to the crease. It was a whirlwind partnership that followed. Bairstow bludgeoned an unbeaten 72 off mere 44 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes to take England to a total of 328/8 in their 50 overs. Rashid provided some good support with 39 to his name in just 25 balls.

In the run chase, Ireland were off to a flying start with Ed Joyce and Paul Stirling scoring runs freely in the first 10 overs. Stirling, in particular, was in sublime form before being dismissed for 48 that came off 42 balls with 8 fours and a six to his name. It was Jake Ball who got the first breakthrough for England in the 14th over after the openers added 68 for the first wicket. Skipper William Poterfield came in next to join Joyce at the crease. Joyce could score only 16 during his struggle of 43 balls at the crease. He was cleaned up by Joe Root in the 16th over. Wickets then started to fall in clusters at regular intervals.

No Irish batsman could support their skipper Porterfield who cruised past his fifty in the meantime. The dismissal of Porterfield, 7th wicket in the 41st over, almost ended the chase for the visitors. He scored a fighting 82 off 83 balls with 6 fours and a six before Mark Wood ran through his stumps. George Dockrell chirped in with some 28 runs to his name in the lower order but that was not enough on the day. Ireland bundled out for 243 in 46.1 overs as Liam Plunkett and Joe Root bagged three wickets each. With the 85 run win, England sealed the series 2-0.

Brief Scores:

England 328/8 in 50 overs (Morgan 76, Root 73, McCarthy 2/61, Chase 2/69)

Ireland 243/10 in 46.1 overs (Porterfield 82, Stirling 48, Plunkett 3/23, Root 3/52)