England vs Ireland, 2020: 1st ODI – Return of ODI cricket, Willey’s fifer, Campher’s debut and more stats

England, in their first home ODI since the World Cup victory, recorded a comfortable 6-wicket win during the first ODI against Ireland. The visiting team was reduced to 28/5 by 7th over as David Willey claimed four wickets. But debutant Curtis Campher, with an unbeaten 59 off 118 balls, helped Ireland to reach 172 before Willey claimed his 5th wicket.

England’s chase began in their typical aggressive manner but they lost four wickets for 78 runs. But Sam Billings (67* off 54) and skipper Eoin Morgan (36*) added 96 runs in only 14.1 overs as the hosts completed the chase with 22.1 overs to spare.

Here are the statistical highlights from England’s comfortable victory against Ireland in the first ODI:

A record haul for David Willey:

5/30 – David Willey’s bowling figures of 5/30 in this match are the best by any left-arm bowler for England in a Men’s ODI. Willey is also the first left-arm pacer to bag a 5-wicket haul for the England Men’s team in ODI cricket.

The left-arm spinners, Ashley Giles (5/57 against India in Delhi, 2002) and Samit Patel (5/41 against South Africa at The Oval, 2008) are the first two left-arm bowlers with 5-wicket hauls for England in Men’s ODI cricket.

End of ODI cricket’s long break:

137 – This match between England and Ireland brought an end to 137 consecutive days without any action of One-Day International Cricket. The last instance of ODI cricket had a longer break that this was way back in 1991. No ODI matches took place across 141 consecutive days between May and October in 1991.

Ireland’s worst start ever:

28 – The 28 runs scored by Ireland before the fall of 5th wicket are the fewest made by them in a Men’s ODI for the first five wickets. Their previous lowest was 30 runs in the 2017 Sharjah ODI against Afghanistan.

39 – The Irish team lost half their side in only 39 deliveries; the first instance of them losing as many as five wickets inside the first 10 overs during a Men’s ODI. Their previous worst was in 62 balls during the 2015 CWC match against South Africa.

The 39 balls are also the fewest England needed to pick up the first five wickets of the opposition in a Men’s ODI. (Where data is available) The previous quickest England took opposition’s first five wickets in a Men’s ODI was off 54 balls during the 2000 Johannesburg ODI against South Africa.

Campher only behind Morgan:

59* – Curtis Campher’s unbeaten 59 is now the 2nd highest score on ODI debut for Ireland. Eoin Morgan struck 99 on his ODI debut during the 2006 Alloway ODI against Scotland. Overall, only PNG’s Charles Amini (61* vs Hong Kong in 2014) scored more runs on ODI debut than Campher while batting at No.7 position.

1 – Campher is also the first Ireland player to score a fifty and also claim a wicket on ODI debut in Men’s cricket. Overall, he is the 14th player with the double of 50+ runs and 1+ wickets on ODI debut in Men’s cricket.

A tight spell by Rashid:

1983 – The last England spinner before Adil Rashid to bowl as many as three maiden overs in a home ODI in Men’s cricket was Vic Marks during the 1983 World Cup game against Sri Lanka. Rashid is also the first spinner to bowl three maidens in a Men’s ODI for England since Graeme Swann in the 2012 Abu Dhabi ODI against Pakistan.

26 – The 26 runs conceded by Adil Rashid in his ten overs are the fewest in a Men’s ODI by an England bowler since James Tredwell’s 23 runs during the 2014 Antigua ODI against West Indies. (After 10 overs bowled)

Campher joins a rare list:

3 – Curtis Campher is only the 3rd player in the history of ODI cricket to be involved in two 50+ partnerships walking to bat when the team lost five wickets under 30 runs. MS Dhoni during the 2012 Chennai ODI against Pakistan and Moeen Ali in the 2018 Adelaide ODI against Australia are the other two players to achieve this rare feat.

England openers get trapped:

5 – Only the 5th time both the opening batsmen of England got out via LBW in a Men’s ODI game. The last of the previous four instances came during the 2011 Mumbai ODI against India. They had two such instances at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens – against Australia in 1987 CWC Final and against India in 2002.