Ireland successfully chase 329 for spectacular victory over England in final ODI

Tim Wigmore
·45-min read
Harry Tector and Kevin O'Brien saw Ireland home in the final over - GETTY IMAGES
Harry Tector and Kevin O'Brien saw Ireland home in the final over - GETTY IMAGES

Perhaps it was fated. In Bangalore nine years ago, Ireland chased down 329 to seal an epic World Cup win over England. At the Ageas Bowl, England set them the same target. And under the floodlights at 9.50pm, Kevin O’Brien - whose century had slain England in Bangalore - calmly swatted Saqib Mahmood away to seal Ireland’s second ever victory over England.

While it fell to O’Brien to seal the chase with a clinical. unbeaten 21, this was a victory authored by two magnificent centuries from Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie, whose 214-run, second-wicket stand underpinned this stunning chase. After Eoin Morgan’s own terrific century earlier in the day, the third one-day international was a tale of three Irish centuries.

From Sabina Park against Pakistan in the 2007 World Cup to the remarkable heist against England in Bangalore in 2011 and nonchalantly hunting down 305 against West Indies in the 2015 World Cup, Irish cricket’s greatest victories have come while chasing. They are wolves, born to chase, not be chased. The guttural roar that greeted O'Brien's blow spoke of the significance of this win - their first over a top-eight nation in ODI cricket for five years and first ever away over a top-eight team constituted vindication for Balbirnie’s bold captaincy and faith in his young team. They leave England having lost the series 2-1, but with Irish cricket emboldened.

While Balbirnie, with 113, O’Brien and young Harry Tector - who walked off unbeaten at 29, and with the memory of a lifetime in only his third ODI - could all toast their deeds, Stirling’s innings will be the stuff of instant legend.

His talent as a cricketer has always been apparent - including to Morgan, who proclaimed him good enough to follow his route and play for England seven years ago. In the past three years he has found increased consistency, averaging 40 in ODI cricket.

But this innings marked an elevation, an announcement of the full possibilities of Stirling’s game. There is a stunning nonchalance to Stirling at his best, a cricketer with a wonderful purity of method. This was detectable in consecutive sixes off Mahmood in the eighth over of Ireland’s chase: first Stirling pulled a short ball over square leg, then he flicked a fuller ball to the same location for another six. England’s quick bowlers were treated to a cocktail of crunching straight drives, audacious slog sweeps - Stirling had no qualms about getting down on one knee to David Willey - and smart accumulation.

Adil Rashid loomed as Ireland’s biggest threat in the chase. Stirling showed the range of his game by slog-sweeping three emphatic sixes, meaning that Rashid could not control the middle overs as he had in the first two ODIs.

Stirling forged a brilliant alliance with Balbirnie, who also showcased his dexterity against spin, sweeping both in front of and behind square and finessing late cuts. Together, they threatened to turn Ireland’s chase of 329 into a breezy waltz.

Perhaps it was never going to be that way. When he had 142 and the target had been whittled down to a mere 65, Stirling charged down for an optimistic single when Balbirnie cut the ball behind point. And then, after reaching his own maiden century against England, Balbirnie perished trying to clear long off in Rashid’s final over - a shot that, for all the serenity and class of his century, he did not need to play.

England’s innings had also been dominated by an Irishman. Entering in his customary role at No4, after shuffling down to six in the first two ODIs to allow fringe players a greater chance, Morgan came in with his team in early strife: 14-2, which soon became 44-3 after James Vince got an inside edge to a delivery from Craig Young that nipped back in.

In alliance with Tom Banton - who made a maiden ODI half-century in an unfamiliar middle-order role - Morgan’s approach to this relative crisis was to counter-attack.

The consummate timing that marked Morgan’s early straight drives invariably signal that he is playing at his best. With the aide of some dismissive pulls through the leg side - he seemed affronted by Josh Little, who had twice dismissed him for a duck in previous England-Ireland ODIs, attempting to bounce him out - Morgan waltzed to a 78-ball century.

Some had thought that Morgan would retire after the elixir of England’s World Cup triumph last summer. Instead, Morgan has responded by playing the best cricket of his life: he enjoyed a magnificent winter for England in Twenty20, propelling him back into the Indian Premier League. On this evidence, Stirling could soon join him there.

That Stirling did not have at least another 50 runs to hunt down on a sumptuous batting track owed much to Balbirnie’s captaincy. Against this England ODI team - even missing its all-format stars - defence is futile. Taking wickets is the only form of containment. England’s 190-3 in the 27th over - a platform, it seemed, for 400 - became 216 for seven thanks to Balbirnie’s chutzpah, using leg spinner Gareth Delany to attack Banton and then bringing on Curtis Campher to prize out Rashid. Willey - the man of the series on his return despite Ireland’s treatment of him in their chase - bludgeoned 51, his top ODI score, to lift England to 328 all out.

There was the sense that Ireland had missed their chance. Instead, the onerous target was the prelude to a stunning denouement to a series that had threatened to be swiftly forgotten in England’s unrelenting summer schedule.

Before this series, Balbirnie had declared that finishing in the top eight of the ODI Super League to earn automatic qualification for the 2023 World Cup would be Irish cricket’s greatest ever achievement. And, for all the barriers that lie ahead on that journey - for all the value of these 10 ODI Super League points - here was a rich sequel to those storied Ireland ODI chases that will gladden Irish hearts for the rest of the summer and beyond.

 

 

08:52 PM

Ireland have chased down 329 to win

It's the 2011 World Cup all over again. What a spectacular chase from Ireland. Stirling and Balbirnie were brilliant and England did not bowl at all well at the death. A great game of cricket. England win the series 2-1.

08:50 PM

Ireland win by seven wickets!

Ok then Mr Mahmood, it's over to you young man. Ball 1: Driven by O'Brien to deep extra-cover for two. Ball 2: Flicked to deep square-leg for one. That was a full toss and was there to hit. Ball 3: A full toss over waist height! It's a no ball. Disaster for Mahmood. Disaster for England. Ireland now have a free hit. And O'Brien thrashes it for two to cow corner. Ireland need one run off three balls. Ball 4: Short and missed by O'Brien. How are your nerves? Ball 5: Pulled for one. Ireland have won!

08:45 PM

OVER 49: IRE 321/3 (Tector 28* O'Brien 15*)

Curran will bowl the penultimate over. O'Brien hits the first ball for one to long-on. Curran totally deceives Tector with a slow short ball for delivery number two. Tector pulls away for two off the third. And he squeezes the yorker away through point for a priceless boundary off the fourth! The fifth is slashed to point for one. And the sixth another single. Ireland need eight runs off six balls.

08:41 PM

OVER 48: IRE 312/3 (Tector 21* O'Brien 13*)

Time for Willey's last over. Yorker No 1 = dot. Yorker No 2 = dot. Tector has to get bat on ball, rather than swinging and missing. Yorker No 3 = single. Now O'Brien is on strike and Willey delivers another full toss, which it slashed over point for four. A dot ball, a wide and a single to finish the over. Ireland need 17 runs off 12 balls.

08:37 PM

OVER 47: IRE 305/3 (Tector 20* O'Brien 8*)

Curran comes back on and Tector totally misses an attempted ramp shot off a slower ball. Curran is surely going to use all his tricks here. Another slower ball, another miss. But Tector then leathers the third ball (just short of yorker length) through the covers for four. And Banton then drops O'Brien! It was another slower ball from Curran, O'Brien baseball batted it down the ground and Banton couldn't hold on diving forward at long-on. If this ends in a tie we will have a super over. Ireland need 24 runs off 18 balls.

08:32 PM

OVER 46: IRE 298/3 (Tector 13* O'Brien 8*)

This is seriously close now. Willey - who has two overs left - is called upon to bowl again and begins with two perfect yorkers. They both go for singles, the third ball is a dot and the fourth is another excellent yorker. But the fifth is a shocker! The attempted yorker turns into a full toss over waist height, which O'Brien pulls for six AND it's a no-ball. That means a free hit, which Willey sends wide. So the free hit carries over and it is hit to mid-off for a single. A massive, massive over for Ireland. Ireland need 31 runs off 24 balls.

08:26 PM

OVER 45: IRE 285/3 (Tector 10* O'Brien 0*)

Who's going to be Ireland's hero now? Tector sticks his hand up with a cracking cover drive for four. O'Brien then gets down the business end and Rashid has a massive shout for lbw with his first ball after a missed sweep. The umpire says no, Moeen calls for the review and... it pitched outside leg. That was crashing into the stumps, but it doesn't matter. Ireland need 44 runs off 30 balls.

08:22 PM

WICKET! Balbirnie c Billings b Rashid 113

Rashid gets his man! Balbirnie finally decides to take a risk against England's frontline spinner, but he doesn't get hold of it and lifts the ball straight down the throat of long-off. This is Rashid's last over. Should Balbirnie just have waited to go big off someone else? FOW 279/3

08:19 PM

OVER 44: IRE 275/2 (Tector 5* Balbirnie 109*)

Mahmood returns to bowl his final two overs and Balbirnie immediately lofts him for two out to the cover sweeper. The bowler gains revenge by twice beating the Ireland captain and then firing in a couple of excellent 90mph yorkers. Well bowled. Ireland need 54 runs off 36 balls.

08:15 PM

OVER 43: IRE 270/2 (Tector 4* Balbirnie 105*)

This is only Tector's third ODI. A bold shout to throw him in now and Rashid has him in some trouble from the outset as Bairstow reminds him of the rising required rate. Just four runs off the over. Ireland need 59 runs off 42 balls.

It's going to be up to Balbirnie now. Can the centurion deliver?

f - AFP

08:11 PM

OVER 42: IRE 266/2 (Tector 1* Balbirnie 104*)

A dramatic over. A century for Balbirnie, brought up with a square drive for four over point off Curran. But Stirling departs. What a fabulous knock from him, deserving of a standing ovation and an Ireland win. Ireland need 63 runs off 48 balls.

08:09 PM

WICKET! Stirling run out 142

Oh no, what a way to go. Balbirnie hits Curran to point, Stirling wants a quick single, his skipper sends him back, but Roy's throw to Curran at the non-striker's end is a good one and Curran takes the bails off with Stirling a yard short. FOW 264/2

08:05 PM

OVER 41: IRE 258/1 (Stirling 141* Balbirnie 98*)

Into the final 10 overs we go and Rashid returns, with Ireland looking set on continuing their risk-free approach towards him.... until Stirling takes him on with the very last ball and Vince drops him!!! Stirling top edges an attempted sweep, Vince races back from mid-wicket but he cannot hold onto the chance coming over his head. It wasn't easy, but it should have been held. Is that the game? The second time Vince has dropped Stirling tonight. Ireland need 71 runs off 54 balls.

08:01 PM

OVER 40: IRE 253/1 (Stirling 139* Balbirnie 95*)

These two batsmen have now put on 200 in 185 balls. Wonderful batting. Curran is back on to bowl: single, single, single, single, dot, single. Ireland need 76 runs off 60 balls.

07:58 PM

OVER 39: IRE 248/1 (Stirling 137* Balbirnie 93*)

That is magnificent fielding from Livingstone out at deep mid-wicket, charging about 30 metres to his left and managing to flick the ball back while hanging in the air about two metres over the boundary rope. Sensational work to save two runs. Balbirnie does get it over the rope at the second time of asking though, sweeping fine for four. Ireland are keeping the required rate well within touching distance at little over seven per over. Ireland need 81 runs off 66 balls.

07:54 PM

OVER 38: IRE 239/1 (Stirling 137* Balbirnie 84*)

Three rare singles as Willey beats Balbirnie's outside edge. Willey looks to be grimacing slightly as he walks back to his mark, but it's a fine over with just three from it. Ireland need 90 runs off 72 balls.

07:49 PM

OVER 37: IRE 236/1 (Stirling 135* Balbirnie 83*)

Rashid off, Moeen on. Can the stand-in captain make the breakthrough? Not based on this sweep from Balbirnie, placed to perfection to scythe between the two leg-side outfielders for four. Stirling then miscues a heave, but gets enough of it to clear mid-off to pick up two. Ireland need 93 runs off 79 balls.

07:46 PM

OVER 36: IRE 229/1 (Stirling 133* Balbirnie 78*)

My word, that is some shot to start an over! Stirling steps outside off, drops down on one knee and drags Willey over cow corner for a big six. The best thing about having no crowd noise is the sound of the ball on bat - and Stirling is connecting wonderfully. Balbirnie then gets in on the act with a pull shot of his own that runs away for four over mid-wicket. Ireland need 100 runs off 84 balls.

07:42 PM

OVER 35: IRE 217/1 (Stirling 126* Balbirnie 73*)

Ireland are now odds-on to win this match. Either way, it should be a thrilling climax. Stirling and Balbirnie take the same approach to Rashid as they did last over, pushing a series of singles, but nothing more.

07:36 PM

OVER 34: IRE 213/1 (Stirling 124* Balbirnie 71*)

Willey returns to the attack, but Stirling immediately drives him straight of mid-off for four and then sits back in the crease to flick beautifully to the square-leg boundary. Time for a second drinks break.

07:32 PM

OVER 33: IRE 203/1 (Stirling 115* Balbirnie 70*)

A change of ends for Rashid, who has five more overs to bowl. How England want to break this partnership, but Ireland need not do anything foolish against the premier spinner. Single, single, single, single, single and finally a dot. Sensible from these two experienced batsmen. Stirling now has Ireland's highest ever ODI score against England.

f - GETTY IMAGES

07:27 PM

OVER 32: IRE 198/1 (Stirling 112* Balbirnie 68*)

Fine bowling from Mahmood keeps Stirling on his toes with some speedy short stuff. But he then drops one on a length and Stirling gobbles it up with a crashing straight drive for four.

07:24 PM

OVER 31: IRE 192/1 (Stirling 107* Balbirnie 67*)

Curran uses cutters and variations in pace to put four dots in the scorer's book to start the over. England's ground fielding also contributes. Balbirnie waits to play Curran's slower ball and wedges it over mid-wicket for four then square cuts for two. Dawson, on as a sub, hurts his shoulder in diving to save the boundary. 

07:20 PM

OVER 30: IRE 185/1 (Stirling 107* Balbirnie 60*)

Mahmood thinks Bairstow has dropped a low chance diving to his right but it actually hit Stirling's trousers as he mowed across the line and missed. Excellent from Mahmood, matching Curran with three dots and three singles. Costly overs for Ireland, who need 144 off 120 balls.

07:16 PM

OVER 29: IRE 182/1 (Stirling 106* Balbirnie 58*)

A single apiece to start Curran's fifth over but the bowler then arrows the next couple closer to off-stump and Balbirnie cannot free his arms. Excellent line. Eventually the captain pushes a drive wide of cover, placing it rather than hitting it, but Curran has given Moeen some control. Only three off the over.  

07:12 PM

OVER 28: IRE 179/1 (Stirling 105* Balbirnie 56*)

Shot! Mahmood errs on width - sixth stump rather than fourth and Stirling flays it through point for four. He steers another single through square on the offside, Balbirnie ducks a bouncer then flicks two off his pads. 

07:08 PM

OVER 27: IRE 171/1 (Stirling 100* Balbirnie 53*)

Double change with TK 'Maxx' Curran returning with his Licorice Allsorts. Rashid makes a fine diving stop at fine leg to stop Stirling bringing up his hundred. He runs two. Curran slips a wide down the leg side and then spears in the yorker that he chisels out with bat between both feet. He moves to 99 with a flick to deep backward square and when Balbirnie drives for a single, Stirling raises his ninth ODI century with a prod to mid-on and a hared single. It came off 96 balls and leaves Ireland needing 158 from 138.

07:02 PM

OVER 26: IRE 164/1 (Stirling 96* Balbirnie 51*)

Moeen brings back Mahmood to see if Balbirnie looks as comfortable against pace. Stirling is on strike first and defends two of  the first three having inside edged a drive into his pads off the other one. The chunky opener has a swish at a pull and misses but connects with a high full toss and slaps it to mid-wicket for two. They check the height of the full toss and determine it was just below the waistband.

Vince spills a very tough chance, diving low to his right at wide mid on when Stirling hammered a pull. Think it popped out when his elbow hit the ground.   

06:57 PM

OVER 25: IRE 160/1 (Stirling 93* Balbirnie 50*)

Vince continues. A nabob of dob but useful to have a second string in a Stokes-free team. He drops his pace to force Stirling on to the back foot to deal with the off-cutter which he carves to short third man, No run. Vince bangs the next one in too but there's no movement and Stirling swats it over midwicket for four. Balbirnie plays a handsome cover drive to finish the over and bring up his fifty. Ireland need 169 off 150 balls

06:51 PM

OVER 24: IRE 152/1 (Stirling 88* Balbirnie 47*)

A beautiful shot from Balbirnie, who takes on Rashid and is rewarded with four runs through extra cover, guided all along the floor. Stirling then goes back to trying the sweep shot and puts enough into it that even a top edge manages to sail over the boundary rope for six. Runs and more runs. Game on here.

06:48 PM

OVER 23: IRE 141/1 (Stirling 82* Balbirnie 42*)

This is impressively tidy from Vince, restricting Ireland to four singles by limiting any width on offer.

06:44 PM

OVER 22: IRE 137/1 (Stirling 80* Balbirnie 40*)

The battle continues, with Stirling only able to take singles off Rashid. Three of them in this over.

06:41 PM

OVER 21: IRE 134/1 (Stirling 78* Balbirnie 39*)

Love that Vince has now become an international all-rounder. Having taken his maiden ODI wicket last weekend, he is thrown the ball again now. This has surely got to be a massive chance for Ireland... but Balbirnie is hugely fortunate to pick up four runs after top-edging a pull shot straight over the keeper's head. The over is actually a good one from Vince, but he ends it poorly, straying onto Balbirnie's hip and allowing him to tuck away for another simple boundary.

06:37 PM

OVER 20: IRE 126/1 (Stirling 78* Balbirnie 31*)

Ooh, lovely battle here as Stirling dips into his box of tricks but can't get Rashid away and the result is a maiden.

06:34 PM

OVER 19: IRE 126/1 (Stirling 78* Balbirnie 31*)

There seems to be no stemming this flow of runs at the moment as Stirling continues on his merry way, paddle sweeping fine past Bairstow for four before clubbing two out to long-on and guiding a couple more past point. And he ends the over with another cut shot for four! Thirteen runs off that over. Time to try something different, Moeen.

06:30 PM

OVER 18: IRE 113/1 (Stirling 65* Balbirnie 31*)

Oi oi, Stirling is at it again, leathering Rashid for another big six into the back of the stand at cow corner. I wonder when Moeen and co will start getting twitchy.

06:24 PM

OVER 17: IRE 104/1 (Stirling 57* Balbirnie 30*)

Spin from both ends as Moeen continues. England could really do with breaking this partnership, which has now passed 50. Instead, Balbirnie chops four through point and Ireland happily head into drinks.

06:21 PM

OVER 16: IRE 98/1 (Stirling 56* Balbirnie 25*)

Here we go. Rashid was excellent in the last match. Can he do some damage here with his googlies? There is an early lbw shout as Stirling is struck on the front pad after missing a sweep, but no one is very convinced. A couple of singles, a wide... and Stirling then slog sweeps for a big six over cow corner. Well, that answers that then.

06:17 PM

OVER 15: IRE 88/1 (Stirling 50* Balbirnie 23*)

A single brings up Stirling's 50 off 52 balls. He's been pretty measured today, with only a couple of big hits. That gets Balbirnie down the business end and he rolls the wrists to sweep hard all along the floor for four through mid-wicket.

06:14 PM

OVER 14: IRE 80/1 (Stirling 48* Balbirnie 17*)

That's a cracking shot from Balbirnie, standing tall and driving on the up through extra cover for four. You know it's a good batting deck when people can play shots like that. And England can't keep the singles at bay. This is a fine start from Ireland.

06:11 PM

OVER 13: IRE 72/1 (Stirling 46* Balbirnie 11*)

Another four singles from this Moeen over. And no free hits in sight.

06:07 PM

OVER 12: IRE 68/1 (Stirling 44* Balbirnie 9*)

A tight over from Curran. Just four singles from it. Nope, scrap that. After a veeeeery long delay, everyone is told to return to their positions because the final ball was deemed a no-ball (although no one seems to know the offence - possibly not enough fielders in the circle). Balbirnie lashes the free hit over point for four. Costly.

06:02 PM

OVER 11: IRE 59/1 (Stirling 42* Balbirnie 3*)

Moeen, who is acting England captain with Morgan off the field, brings himself on to bowl and just manages to clear cover for an aerial two before going up and over again for two more dead straight.

05:59 PM

OVER 10: IRE 55/1 (Stirling 38* Balbirnie 3*)

Curran is brought on in place of Mahmood, and Balbirnie gets off the mark in some style by driving past extra cover for three.

05:55 PM

OVER 9: IRE 50/1 (Stirling 36* Balbirnie 0*)

It had been a fine start for Ireland until that wicket. There are precisely no demons in this pitch. They just need someone to play second fiddle to Stirling.

05:54 PM

WICKET! Delany b Willey 12

He looked pretty out of his depth today and now Delany's innings comes to a meek end, shuffling way too far outside off and allowing the ball to crash into his leg stump. FOW 50/1

05:48 PM

OVER 8: IRE 44/0 (Stirling 32* Delany 10*)

Have a bit of that! Stirling stands as tall as his short stature allows and hooks Mahmood into the back of the stand over square leg. A massive hit. And he repeats the trick the very next ball! Six followed by six!

05:43 PM

OVER 7: IRE 29/0 (Stirling 19* Delany 9*)

Stirling continues to ask questions of the bowlers, walking across his stumps and using his wrists to flick Willey for two out to deep mid-wicket.

05:39 PM

OVER 6: IRE 25/0 (Stirling 17* Delany 8*)

Too wide from Mahmood, which allows Delany to free his arms and drive the ball to the cover boundary. He is not so comfortable when the ball is targeted at him though. In fact, he looks distinctly uncomfortable.

f - REUTERS

05:35 PM

OVER 5: IRE 20/0 (Stirling 17* Delany 3*)

That's lovely from Stirling, shuffling leg side of the ball to punch Willey for two out to the cover boundary. He then employs the old 'stand-and-deliver' technique to thwack Willey over cover for four and tucks three off his pads. Got to have a swing if they are to chase this down.

05:31 PM

OVER 4: IRE 9/0 (Stirling 8* Delany 1*)

Delany is looking all at sea here. An almighty swish to Mahmood misses the ball by a mile and he then miscues a pull shot a foot or so over mid-wicket's head. Just two off the over. Not quite the flier Ireland were hoping for.

05:26 PM

OVER 3: IRE 7/0 (Stirling 7* Delany 0*)

Delany looks clueless to Willey bowling a fifth/sixth stump line. An inside edge then saves him when England ask the lbw question to a straighter delivery. A Willey working over. Maiden.

05:23 PM

No Captain Morgan

Eoin Morgan felt tightness in his groin while batting and won't field. Which means Moeen Ali will serve as captain.

05:22 PM

OVER 2: IRE 7/0 (Stirling 7* Delany 0*)

Mahmood is the man to share new-ball duties today, with Topley out of the side, and Stirling hoicks an agricultural two over mid-on. That is all for this over though. A tidy start from Mahmood.

05:17 PM

OVER 1: IRE 5/0 (Stirling 5* Delany 0*)

Right then, can Ireland get the quick start that they need? Stirling has not had a good series so far, but he will be crucial if they are to chase this big target down. And he gets off the mark with a crisp cover drive off Willey that flashes to the boundary.

04:47 PM

Ireland require 329 to win

A rare occasion for England to be bowled out in an ODI, but you have to think they've scored enough to win this game. Although we all thought the same at the 2011 World Cup when Ireland successfully chased down 328 to win. Balbirnie's men did well to take 10 wickets today, but they twice let England off the hook when the hosts were 44/3 and 216/7. Morgan's hundred was excellent, and Banton and Willey also scored crucial runs. Back with the Ireland chase in a bit.

04:44 PM

England bowled out for 328 (49.5 overs)

Curran ends unbeaten on 38.

04:43 PM

WICKET! Mahmood b Balbirnie c Little 12

Mahmood attempts to hit the penultimate ball of the 40 overs out of the park, but only succeeds in clobbering it straight into the air, with Balbirnie taking the catch at mid-off. FOW 328/10

04:38 PM

OVER 49: ENG 325/9 (Mahmood 12* T Curran 36*)

Young returns to finish his allocation and Curran immediately gets his front foot out of the way, driving straight of mid-on for four. Mahmood then pulls just short of mid-on, Curran edges for one and the over brings a total of seven runs.

04:35 PM

OVER 48: ENG 318/9 (Mahmood 11* T Curran 30*)

Nicely done from Mahmood, blocking Little's straight ones and pushing two off the final ball to keep Curran on strike for the penultimate over.

04:30 PM

OVER 47: ENG 314/9 (Mahmood 8* T Curran 29*)

Young had one more over still to bowl, but he is taken off in favour of Adair. Curran baseball bats out to the cover sweeper for two, before swinging from the hip and whacking a rank long hop for four.

04:26 PM

OVER 46: ENG 306/9 (Mahmood 7* T Curran 22*)

Rashid's dismissal brings Mahmood to the crease and he inside edges a flukey four past the keeper, which also brings up England's 300.

04:23 PM

WICKET! Rashid run out 3

Little returns to bowl, Rashid attempts to steal a sneaky single after Curran edges directly behind the stumps to Tucker, but the wicketkeeper picks the ball up and his direct hit leaves Rashid miles short. FOW 298/9

04:21 PM

OVER 45: ENG 298/8 (Rashid 3* T Curran 21*)

Young - Ireland's leading wickettaker in this series - returns to bowl the final two overs of his allocation, having claimed three wickets earlier today. It's all ones and twos in this over, which yields six runs.

04:15 PM

OVER 44: ENG 292/8 (Rashid 2* T Curran 17*)

Campher really is a fine talent. Rashid isn't the worst person to have coming out at No 10 though and he flicks for two off his pads.

04:13 PM

WICKET! Willey c Balbirnie b Campher 51

It's a very good slower ball from Campher, which deceives Willey and he ends up picking out Balbirnie at long-on. A fine innings ends. FOW 289/8

04:10 PM

OVER 43: ENG 288/7 (Willey 51* T Curran 15*)

Balbirnie decides to ask for a speculative review after McBrine hits Curran on the front pad. Plenty of questions to be answered. Was there bat involved? No. Would it have hit the stumps? Yes. Did it strike him outside the line of off stump? Yes. So not out is the correct decision. They scamper three leg byes and Willey then DEMOLISHES a slog sweep out of the ground. What a way to bring up a 38-ball half-century and what a brilliant series he is having with bat and ball. Ireland have let England off the hook again here.

04:06 PM

OVER 42: ENG 277/7 (Willey 44* T Curran 14*)

Campher is back to try his luck with the ball, but he also oversteps and this time Willey somehow manages to dig out a yorker with such impeccable timing that the ball races away for four between deep mid-wicket and long-on.

04:01 PM

OVER 41: ENG 269/7 (Willey 38* T Curran 13*)

Ticking, tocking, ticking, tocking. These two are doing exactly what England need right now, keeping the run rate up and then waiting for the bad ball, which Willey this time pulls for another big six over mid-wicket when McBrine drops one short. This partnership is now worth 53 at quicker than a run a ball.

03:57 PM

OVER 40: ENG 259/7 (Willey 30* T Curran 11*)

Single, single, single, two... whoops, an Adair no-ball gives Willey a free hit, which he one-armed pulls for six over square leg. Costly.

03:52 PM

OVER 39: ENG 246/7 (Willey 20* T Curran 10*)

McBrine returns to the attack, having been expensive so far today, and Willey welcomes his return by dancing towards him and whacking a one-bounce four over mid-on. These two batsmen are rotating the strike well.

03:48 PM

OVER 38: ENG 239/7 (Willey 14* T Curran 9*)

A few scampered singles paves the way for Curran to show some attacking intent, clobbering the returning Adair back over the bowler, where the ball lands a foot from the boundary rope and bounces over.

03:43 PM

OVER 37: ENG 232/7 (Willey 12* T Curran 5*)

Curran has faced 10 balls without scoring, but Delany gifts him a rank full toss that allows him to whack it through extra cover for four. That was generous and helps keep the scoreboard ticking.

f - AFP

03:41 PM

OVER 36: ENG 225/7 (Willey 10* T Curran 0*)

Unsurprisingly, those wickets have changed the shape of this innings entirely. Just one run off this over as England are somewhat forced to bat for time as they lower their score expectations.

03:36 PM

OVER 35: ENG 224/7 (Willey 9* T Curran 0*)

Ireland continue to attack with the field up for Delany, but Willey pierces them with a strong cover drive for four.

03:33 PM

OVER 34: ENG 216/7 (Willey 2* T Curran 0*)

England's run rate is not an issue, but wickets are falling too frequently and they are going to have to change their mindset now. Another wicket maiden.

03:31 PM

WICKET! Billings c Adair b Young 19

Young returns to the attack and Billings attempts to lift the ball back over the top, but miscues it to Adair at mid-on, who dives forward and holds on. A soft wicket. FOW 216/7

03:28 PM

OVER 33: ENG 216/6 (Willey 2* Billings 19*)

Delany continues his flat leggies which he bowls in the mid/late 50s. And it's another good over from him with just two runs from it. He's bowled very well so far.

03:23 PM

OVER 32: ENG 214/6 (Willey 1* Billings 18*)

Campher isn't giving the batsmen any width here, which means Billings has to attack a straight one, driving on the up for four runs back past the bowler. He does then stray a touch wide though, allowing Billings to free his arms and crash a cover drive to the boundary. Good batting track, this. Time for another drink.

03:19 PM

OVER 31: ENG 206/6 (Willey 1* Billings 10*)

Ireland have mid-on and mid-off up with Delany bowling now, as well as a catching short mid-wicket. Trying to put the pressure back on England. The run rate is still above 6.5, but a couple more wickets and this is almost done. Three singles from the over. No risks being taken now.

03:15 PM

OVER 30: ENG 203/6 (Willey 0* Billings 8*)

This game has totally flipped in the last 15 minutes. A wicket maiden from Campher!

03:13 PM

WICKET! Moeen c Stirling b Campher 1

Moeen falls cheaply again. He was anticipating the short ball, went back to the delivery and was early on it, sending a leading edge straight into the hands of Stirling at short cover. FOW 203/6

03:11 PM

OVER 29: ENG 203/5 (Moeen 1* Billings 8*)

Ireland needed that wicket and now they attempt to impose some pressure on the batsmen, ringing the infield and forcing a rash single that would have sent Billings packing had Tector's throw been more accurate.

03:08 PM

WICKET! Banton lbw Delany 58

In fact, it's a change of ends for Delany, who returns here... and he picks up Banton with his second ball! Banton goes back to it and is hit halfway up the pad, bang in front of middle. Both set batsmen gone. FOW 202/5

03:06 PM

OVER 28: ENG 201/4 (Banton 58* Billings 7*)

Just a one-over cameo from Delany as Campher returns and he forces Banton to dig out a dangerous yorker straight up. Billings gets off the mark with a very hasty two to deep square-leg, before he repeats the stroke with better timing and placement, working it straighter for four. There's no slowing down this run rate.

Got to enjoy an international fielder having to retrieve the ball from an empty stand:

f - REUTERS

03:00 PM

OVER 27: ENG 193/4 (Banton 57* Billings 0*)

I wonder if Morgan, being Morgan, won't actually mind that dismissal. He's got his ton and now happy to give others a chance in this series. Or maybe that's putting an amateur's brain inside a professional's head. A great knock from him today.

02:58 PM

WICKET! Morgan c Tector b Little 106

The skipper departs! He attempts to whip Little through mid-wicket but the ball loops off a leading edge and Tector runs round from point to take a simple catch. FOW 190/4

02:55 PM

OVER 26: ENG 189/3 (Banton 53* Morgan 106*)

Delany has never taken an ODI wicket but is asked to try his luck with some leg breaks here. The result? Morgan spots a huge expanse of space over square-leg and sweeps from well outside off, placing the ball with expert precision for four. Just seven runs off the over.

02:52 PM

OVER 25: ENG 182/3 (Banton 51* Morgan 101*)

Stop bowling half-trackers at Morgan! Another one is banged in by Little and it receives the same treatment as in the previous over: hooked for six. And what a way to then bring up his hundred as a sumptuous straight drive rockets to the boundary for a 78-ball ton. My word, the run rate is 7.28! This could get ugly for Ireland if Morgan hangs around.

02:47 PM

OVER 24: ENG 171/3 (Banton 50* Morgan 91*)

Anything you can do etc etc etc... After watching Morgan last over, Banton now decides to skip down the track to McBrine and whack him for an enormous six over cow corner. A single then brings up his first ODI half-century, which comes off 41 balls, and Morgan finishes with a strong sweep shot for four more.

02:43 PM

OVER 23: ENG 160/3 (Banton 43* Morgan 87*)

Campher, who had conceded 40 runs off five overs, is taken off and Little returns to the attack. These boundary fielders are being made to work mighty hard as the ball rockets off the bat time and time again. Ones and twos aplenty... until Morgan decides to take the fielders out of the game entirely by hooking off his nose right to the back of the stand at backward square-leg. A monster six.

02:39 PM

OVER 22: ENG 147/3 (Banton 39* Morgan 80*)

"Catch it," is the shout as long-on sprints round to his right, but he cannot make enough ground with Morgan's lofted drive bouncing once over the boundary rope. The shout is replicated when Morgan sweeps hard over mid-wicket, but no one is able to get near it and four more is the result. This partnership is now worth 103, off 86 balls.

02:36 PM

OVER 21: ENG 139/3 (Banton 39* Morgan 72*)

Banton is steadily building an impressive innings here. He is happy to play second fiddle to Morgan when the situation dictates, but on the occasions when the England captain fails to find the boundary, Banton is able to attack with aplomb. He ends Campher's over here by pulling for four straight of mid-wicket and then top-edging a cut shot for another boundary.

02:32 PM

OVER 20: ENG 129/3 (Banton 30* Morgan 71*)

McBrine isn't doing too badly against Morgan here. He frustrates the England captain, who takes four balls to get off strike. Banton then goes up and over, to add four back past the bowler. He didn't get all of it though and I don't think McBrine will mind that shot too much as it was lacking in control.

02:30 PM

OVER 19: ENG 123/3 (Banton 25* Morgan 70*)

Just four runs off a rare Campher over devoid of excitement.

02:26 PM

OVER 18: ENG 119/3 (Banton 22* Morgan 69*)

Morgan dropped! That was a very tough chance, with the England skipper clobbering a pull shot off McBrine. Balbirnie dived to his right at mid-wicket and got two hands to it at full stretch, but just couldn't cling on. The result is two runs.

02:23 PM

OVER 17: ENG 114/3 (Banton 21* Morgan 65*)

This plan from Campher doesn't seem to be working at the moment. He's bowling short outside off stump to Morgan, with the keeper up. But two of his first three balls are wides. Mind you, if he goes full and straight then Morgan is capable of flicking it on its way with total ease, as he has just done here for a one-bounce four to beat fine-leg. The over then ends with a lucky edge for four more. No catching that with the keeper standing up.

f - AFP

02:17 PM

OVER 16: ENG 102/3 (Banton 20* Morgan 57*)

McBrine is thrown the ball for a first taste of spin... but it makes no difference to Morgan, who drops down on one knee and slog sweeps with such power for a one-bounce four through cow corner.

02:11 PM

OVER 15: ENG 96/3 (Banton 19* Morgan 52*)

Oh, what a shot from Morgan. England's captain looks in wonderful touch today and he continues on his merry way by skipping down the track to Campher and walloping the ball over mid-off for six. A guided cut down to third man then brings up his half-century off just 39 balls before a toe-ended pull adds two more. That is time for drinks.

02:07 PM

OVER 14: ENG 84/3 (Banton 18* Morgan 41*)

Four runs off a quiet Little over.

02:04 PM

OVER 13: ENG 80/3 (Banton 15* Morgan 41*)

Young's spell comes to an end and Campher is given the chance to continue his excellent series. I would highly recommend this piece on Campher and Ireland's use of overseas recruits. Campher has picked up Banton in both ODIs so far (as well as cleaning him up when playing for South Africa Under-19s). Can he continue his dominance here? Not immediately. Two runs off the over.

01:59 PM

OVER 12: ENG 78/3 (Banton 14* Morgan 40*)

Banton is showing plenty of intent here, although he's mighty relieved to see an attempted pull shot land just over mid-on after he was deceived by the length of the delivery and it came off the splice. That could easily have nestled into the fielder's hands. Morgan then gets down the other end and shows his younger team-mate exactly how to do it, pulling a bouncer all the way for six over square-leg.

01:54 PM

OVER 11: ENG 68/3 (Banton 13* Morgan 32*)

Full and floaty from Young, which allows Morgan to punch it straight of mid-off for four. Young then attempts to dig one in to Banton, who stands tall and drags the ball from outside off, dispatching it to the mid-wicket boundary. The runs continue to come at a healthy rate.

01:50 PM

OVER 10: ENG 59/3 (Banton 9* Morgan 27*)

Time for a bowling change as the left-armer Little comes into the attack and Banton greets him by twice cutting nicely through cover for consecutive boundaries. Lovely placement and timing. That's the first Powerplay finished: wickets and runs.

01:46 PM

OVER 9: ENG 50/3 (Banton 1* Morgan 26*)

That's gorgeous from Morgan, who strokes a cover drive with expert timing and weight transfer for it to crash into the boundary fence at extra cover. The England captain is then hit on the side of the helmet as he ducks a Young bouncer and it's time for a mandatory concussion test, although he looks in no trouble whatsoever. A helmet change then prompts a looooooong delay.

Here's my colleague Tim Wigmore with a nice stat:

James Vince out for a very Vincey 16 off 18 balls. Vince has now made between 14 and 43 in 10 of his past 11 ODI innings.

01:39 PM

WICKET! Vince c Tucker b Young 16

That's out isn't it? The umpire says no and Ireland instantly review. Young gets one to nip back into Vince and there seemed to be a noise as it passes the inside of the bat on the way through to the keeper. The fielders behind the stumps were convinced, the bowler didn't hear anything, the umpire said no... but the review shows a clear inside edge. England in trouble. FOW 44/3

01:36 PM

OVER 8: ENG 44/2 (Vince 16* Morgan 22*)

Morgan is clearly intent on taking it to the Irish bowlers today, regardless of those early wickets. This time he almost swings himself off the floor, so hard are his exertions. He doesn't get anywhere near the middle of the bat, but manages to bludgeon hard enough for the ball to roll away for an ugly four through mid-wicket.

01:32 PM

OVER 7: ENG 39/2 (Vince 15* Morgan 18*)

Runs here. Morgan first pulls Young for two and then creams a straight drive so well that he picks up four runs for it, even with a deflection off the stumps at the non-striker's end. Not content with his lot, Morgan finishes by bludgeoning a bullet pull shot to the mid-wicket boundary. Eleven off the over.

01:29 PM

OVER 6: ENG 28/2 (Vince 14* Morgan 8*)

This is impressive bowling from Adair on his return to the side. He's giving Morgan little width or length to work with... at least for the first five balls of the over. After that he drops one a touch shorter and wider, allowing the England captain to slash it off the back foot past cover for four.

01:25 PM

OVER 5: ENG 24/2 (Vince 14* Morgan 4*)

More good fortune for Vince brings another streaky boundary, looped high and wide of the slip cordon off the outside edge, before he clips a neat two off his toes wide of fine leg. It's been a good start from Young.

01:23 PM

OVER 4: ENG 18/2 (Vince 8* Morgan 4*)

What a start for Ireland. Just a hint of movement off the seam from Adair and Bairstow was deceived. I'm not actually sure it did clip the inside edge on its way through. Perhaps it was all off the seam. That brings Morgan for an early stint at the crease and he gets off the mark thick-edging a drive for four behind square on the off side.

01:18 PM

WICKET! Bairstow b Adair 4

Oh, hello! Bairstow attempts to give Adair the big'un by walloping him back over his head. But the ball isn't quite full enough and Bairstow instead feathers an inside edge into his own stumps. FOW 14/2

01:16 PM

OVER 3: ENG 14/1 (Vince 8* Bairstow 4*)

A James Vince cover drive is one of the finest sights in international cricket and he absolutely nails this one off Young, rocketing the ball to the boundary. Superb. Impeccable timing. And yet... oh look, we all know what's going to happen when he reaches 25/30. You don't need me to say it.

01:12 PM

OVER 2: ENG 7/1 (Vince 4* Bairstow 2*)

Adair will share new-ball duties on his return to the side and he almost picks up Vince for a duck. England's No 3 slashes hard at a wide one and edges over the slip cordon for a streaky four.

01:08 PM

OVER 1: ENG 2/1 (Vince 0* Bairstow 1*)

Bairstow and Roy have the highest average runs per over (7.04) of any opening partnership to have scored 2000+ runs in ODI history. But they won't be sharing anything spectacular today as Roy is back in the changing room already. That brings Vince to the crease, prompting Rob Key to offer this verdict: "Vince needs a score here or we might not see him in international cricket again."

01:06 PM

WICKET! Roy c Balbirnie b Young 1

Roy falls early again and Young has a wicket in his first over! It was a bit of a nothing shot, half-driving outside off but with minimal conviction and Roy edges straight into the hands of second slip. FOW 2/1

12:57 PM

Here come the players

Game time.

12:56 PM

Target practice

How many do we think England will clock up today? The way they've batted so far in this series, you'd think 300 is a bare minimum if they get their usual flying start. 

12:36 PM

Team news

Tom Curran replaces the injured Reece Topley and Mark Adair comes in for Simi Singh for the visitors. 

Tom Curran of England successfully appeals for LBW against James Vince (not pictured) during a England One Day Squad Warm up match at The Ageas Bowl on July 24, 2020 in Southampton, England - Mike Hewitt/ Getty Images Europe

12:34 PM

Ireland win the toss

And they have put England in...

It'll have to be a victory by runs, not wickets, this time. 

12:17 PM

Tim Wigmore: Why Jonny Bairstow is one of the best ODI batsmen in the world

In the history of one-day international cricket, 70 players have scored 2000 runs opening the batting. Bairstow has the second best average of this group - and the best strike rate of the lot. He is an ODI marvel, marrying the consistency needed to average 50.2 with a strike rate of 111 - a ruthless exploiter of the fielding restrictions and reliable run-scorer all wrapped up in one. 

Read all of Tim's analysis on Bairstow's brilliance here.  

12:03 PM

Can England make it a clean sweep against Ireland?

You would have to say they are heavy favourites, if that was not already obvious. So far in this three-match ODI series against Ireland they have had a crushing victory and a comfortable one, although the distinction between the two was not really that massive. Ireland batted first both times and made a low-ish score, with England chasing down 173 inside 24 overs for the loss of four wickets in match one and 213 in 32.3 overs for the loss of six wickets in the second. 

Perhaps, though, the third and final match of the series at the Rose Bowl will yield a closer result. Perhaps Ireland batting first, scoring 258 and England chasing it down inside... say, 41 overs for the loss of... seven wickets? It still seems a little strange focusing on an England ODI when the first Test against Pakistan begins tomorrow morning, but that is the world we are currently living in. And every one of the players selected to play in this match and the wider series will be pleased to be back in action, no doubt.

It is clearly not England's strongest ODI side, but with the likes of World Cup winners Eoin Morgan, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, Jonny Bairstow, and Jason Roy — not to mention David Willey, who only narrowly missed out on a place in the squad — it is certainly not too shabby. 

For Ireland, the series is gone but there is still a decent opportunity to beat the World Champions, as they have done before. The problem is there is little to suggest they they are going to run them close today. The toss will take place in around half an hour with the match starting at 2pm. We'll be here to take you through all of it, over by over. 

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