Ireland created a major upset in the T20 World Cup 2022 with victory over England by five runs via DLS method in their Group 1 match of the Super 12 stage at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The win is also the third for Ireland over England in Men’s international cricket after winnings ODIs in Bengaluru in 2011 (World Cup) and Southampton in 2020.
The five-run victory also adds to Ireland’s incredible upswing in T20Is, after bowing out of last year’s T20 World Cup in the first round before beating West Indies in a decisive first-round match in Hobart to enter Super 12 stage of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022.
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Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie (62 off 47 balls) and Lorcan Tucker (34 off 27 balls) put together an 82-run stand to take the team to a competitive 157 all out in 19.2 overs, before seam bowler Joshua Little dismissed Jos Buttler and Alex Hales to reduce England to 24/2 in four overs, laying the base for a famous win as England could only manage 105/5 in 14.3 overs.
However, it began to rain and England were short by five runs according to the DLS to hand Ireland their first two points in the Super 12. The result also makes England’s next outing against arch-rivals Australia, a must-win affair to stay alive in their race for a semi-finals spot.
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Earlier, despite rain causing a delay in start of the proceedings, Ireland reached 59/1 at the end of powerplay, losing opener Paul Stirling as he slashed a 150 kph ball from Mark Wood to third man. Ireland lost their last nine wickets for just 34 runs, collapsing to 157 all out, with four balls remaining in their innings. Wood (3/34) and Liam Livingstone (3/17) were the pick of the bowlers for England, while Sam Curran starred with 2/30.
Ireland dominated with both bat and ball in the first half of the innings, before handing England their ninth T20I defeat in 12 matches this year.
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Brief Scores
Ireland 157 all out in 19.2 overs (Andrew Balbirnie 62, Lorcan Tucker 34; Liam Livingstone 3/17, Mark Wood 3/34)
England 105/5 in 14.3 overs (Dawid Malan 35, Moeen Ali 24 not out; Joshua Little 2/16, George Dockrell 1/5)
