Ireland v England ODI

There was a brief rain delay at Stormont, where England won the toss and elected to bat in the one day international against Ireland [50 overs]. But not before Trent Johnston, on his 100th cap, picked up two early wickets, Bopara and Trott. Cricinfo scorecard. Wicket! MJ Prior c West b Botha 29 (52b 3×4 0x6). Wicket! PD Collingwood c †NJ O’Brien b West 9 (23b 0x4 0x6). Wicket! OA Shah c KJ O’Brien b Cusack 21 (32b 0x4 1×6). Wicket! JL Denly lbw b Johnston 67 (111b 3×4 0x6). Crucial wicket taken by a reintroduced Johnston. Another wicket for Johnston! LJ Wright c Mooney b Johnston 36 (26b 3×4 2×6). Wicket! AU Rashid c KJ O’Brien b Cusack 7 (17b 0x4 0x6). Wicket! GP Swann b Botha 5 (7b 0x4 0x6). England in danger of being bowled out. England 203 for 9 off 50 overs. Target 204. That should be get-able.. But, with the weather threatening to intervene, Ireland will need to keep an eye on the run rate [4.08 runs per over required]. Update After a rain delay, the match will restart at 5.36pm. It’s now a 20 over game and Duckworth/Lewis decrees Ireland’s new target to be 116 to win. Now Porterfield out 2nd over for 4 runs. Niall O’Brien out 4th over for 12 runs. Botha out in 9th over for 15 runs. Don’t throw this one away guys. Stirling goes in the 10th for a solid 30 runs. A couple of low scoring overs. Need to watch that run rate. Kevin O’Brien goes in the 15th over for just 4 runs. Mooney stumped in the 16th for 9 runs. It could be slipping away. White run out for 1 run in 17th. West goes in 18th. And Cusack follows. Final Ireland 113 for 9 off 20 overs. England win by 2 runs (D/L method). Close, but not close enough. Disappointing collapse let the run rate get away. Trent Johnston, deservedly, man of the match.

Pete Baker