Twitter Reactions: David Willey buries World Cup snub with a fifer to steamroll Ireland
With only 173 runs to get in 50 overs, the match was definitely inclined towards the hosts.
After a long wait, limited-overs cricket finally began with the England vs Ireland ODI series taking place. It was also the first series of the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League. England had a revamped squad after some of their regulars had to miss out on this series. This was due to them being involved in the recently concluded England vs West Indies Test series.
Nevertheless, the hosts still started as strong favorites. Eoin Morgan won the toss and elected to bowl. David Willey, who had missed out on a World Cup spot in 2019 rose to the occasion. With a depleted English bowling attack, the pacer provided early breakthroughs for his team. The Irish side was restricted to 28/5, with the left-arm swing bowler getting four of the wickets.
The visitors were in deep trouble and desperately needed a partnership. Keven O’Brien and Curtis Campher came together to make a fifty-one run stand for the sixth wicket. Ireland lost the former and Simi Singh’s wicket in quick succession. After being 79/7 Campher and Andy McBrine displayed some great batting to bring up a sixty-six run partnership for the eighth wicket.
Ireland could not capitalize on this and were eventually bowled out for only 172 runs in 44.4 overs. Willey got a fifer, Saqib Mahmood took two while Adil Rashid and Tom Curran ended with a wicket each. Campher who was the highest scorer for the Irish side stayed unbeaten on 59.
A comfortable victory for England
With only 173 runs to get in 50 overs, the match was definitely inclined towards the hosts. They did not disappoint their fans and after some early hiccups, they went on to win the match comfortably. Some good bowling from the visitors had led to the England side being 78/4 at the end of 13.4 overs. However, they were also leaking runs with the hosts having a run-rate of almost six.
After the hosts losing four wickets, captain Morgan finally came in to bat at number six. He along with Sam Billings, combined to make an unbeaten 96-run partnership for the fifth wicket. This stand was enough to guide the hosts to a safe victory. Billings scored a good 67* while the captain chipped in with 36* runs. For Ireland, Craig Young got a couple of wickets while Andy McBrine and Curtis Campher ended with a wicket each.
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