daniel chigunwe
England suffer T20 World Cup setback after defeat to Ireland on DLS; Jos Buttler’s side five runs below par score of 110 when rain ended match 14.3 overs into chase of 158.
Ireland earned another famous World Cup win over England with a rain-affected five-run victory over Jos Buttler’s off-colour side at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Eleven years on from their three-wicket win over England at the 50-over World Cup in India, Ireland beat their rivals again in the T20 version after rain thwarted their opponents’ timid chase of 158.
England were 105-5 after 14.3 overs, five runs below the DLS par score of 110, when the rain that had caused delays earlier in the game returned and did not relent in time for the match to resume.
Moeen Ali (24no off 12) got himself going with three fours and a six after his team had limped to 29-3 in the powerplay and then 86-5 in the 14th over, but weather had the final say as Ireland secured a notable victory and dented England’s title hopes.
England now face a blockbuster clash — a virtual eliminator — with hosts and defending champions Australia at the same venue on Friday (9am UK time) immediately after Ireland play Afghanistan (5am UK time).
Buttler’s men will want a much-improved performance against Australia, with their bowling loose for the first 10 overs of the Ireland innings and their batting laboured until Moeen’s late flurry.
England looked favourites at the halfway stage with Ireland having collapsed from a promising 103-1 in the 12th over – underpinned by skipper Andrew Balbirnie (62) and Lorcan Tucker (34) adding 82 from 57 balls for the second wicket – to 157 all out in 19.2 overs after losing their last nine wickets for just 54 runs; spinner Liam Livingstone (3-17) and seamer Mark Wood (3-34) sharing six wickets. — skysports
Bongani Ndlovu