Cricket:England's new Irish captain, Eoin Morgan, was able to savour victory in his native Dublin this evening as his side survived a nervy batting display and a dangerous cameo from their Bangalore conqueror Kevin O'Brien to beat Ireland by 11 runs at Clontarf.
England’s trio of debutants had a tough introduction to international cricket, James Taylor and Ben Stokes making four between them and Scott Borthwick on the receiving end of two big sixes from O’Brien.
But, having made 201 for eight in 42 overs, Morgan’s side successfully defended a rain-revised Duckworth-Lewis target of 129 in 23 overs.
On his first experience captaining England, Morgan had the additional responsibility of keeping on top of the D/L calculations. And he said: “It was like being back at school to be honest. But I really enjoyed it.
“It was a good challenge for us and an entertaining game. I really enjoyed the role. It was a good day for us, a challenging day with the weather that was around. Coming on and off the field tested us a bit. The guys held their nerve at the end and did well.”
On his own reception coming back to Ireland, he added: “Everybody here’s very hospitable. Today I got a great welcome, so thank you.”
Ireland captain William Porterfield refused to blame the weather for his side’s defeat. The recalculations ultimately left them chasing 87 off 60 balls following a stoppage which interrupted their innings.
He said: “It’s swings and roundabouts. It probably worked for us a bit, worked for them a bit throughout the day. We thought maybe 87 was a bit much slightly at the end there off the 10 overs but that’s the way it goes.”
He added: “It was a bit frustrating coming on and off for rain. Bit disappointing in the end. We gave it a crack, that’s all we could do At half-time were were pretty happy but unfortunately the rain came again.”
Jonathan Trott (69) and Morgan (59) did the bulk of the batting work, while Ireland’s chances of getting over the line suffered an irreparable blow when Jade Dernbach yorked O’Brien — the man whose 63-ball 113 stunned England in the World Cup.
Starting the chase Paul Stirling hit one fearful six over cover but fell two balls later attempting a second big blow off Steven Finn. Ed Joyce, who won 17 ODI caps for England before recommitting to Ireland, became Finn’s second victim when Craig Kieswetter took a thin edge behind the stumps.
The rain came after 13 overs of the reply, Porterfield and Niall O’Brien the men at the crease. That left Ireland on 42 for two but the stubborn showers threatened to frustrate both teams.
The statisticians busily calculated and recalculated the Duckworth-Lewis target as the rain stopped and started, eventually settling on an equation of 87 off the remaining 60 balls. Borthwick was handed his first over for England after the restart, though he can claim little credit for Porterfield’s lazy run out off his second delivery.
That brought Kevin O’Brien to the crease and the man whose unforgettable hundred downed England in March soon found his range. He heaved his third and fourth balls over the ropes, seeing Borthwick out of the attack after an over and delighting the fans.
His brother Niall fell looking for a six of his own, pulling Dernbach to Finn at square leg, with Nigel Jones lasting four balls before being bowled by a Ravi Bopara slower ball.
Kevin O’Brien made 26 from 15 balls before a fine Dernbach yorker clattered leg stump, taking Ireland’s hopes with it. From then on Ireland found the odd boundary but lost John Mooney (15) and Gary Wilson (13) to the cause to finish 117 for eight.
England’s innings had little to recommend it outside of the 102-run third-wicket stand between Morgan and Trott. Ireland started well, Mooney shining with the new ball in the absence of an injured Trent Johnston, and Kieswetter was first man out in the eighth over.
He had 14, including a top-edged six, when Mooney found a nick and Niall O’Brien took a low catch behind the stumps. That brought the highly-rated Taylor to the crease but he managed just one run - a risky single — before Boyd Rankin hurried him on the pull and Wilson snared him at midwicket.
That brought Trott and Morgan together and the pair looked comfortable after an hour’s rain delay reduced the innings to 42 overs. Morgan, warmly welcomed by the fans, quickly settled into a groove on his hometown pitch, thrashing Kevin O’Brien for successive fours to take the total past 50.
The Dubliner was beginning to time the ball sweetly and clubbed his fourth boundary over mid-off as he overtook Trott. The Warwickshire man took the hint and promptly lifted Alex Cusack over cover, following up with a reverse swept four off George Dockrell as the run-rate spiked.
A sequence of 15 consecutive singles saw England to three figures before Morgan deposited Dockrell for six into the on-side to break the trend. Half-centuries followed for both batsmen, Morgan’s from 52 balls and Trott’s from 78, but Stirling made the crucial breakthrough soon after.
The off-spinner induced a leading edge from Morgan and took a diving return catch. England faltered badly thereafter, Trott’s already stately scoring rate dipping again before he holed out for 69 and all three all-rounders failing to make an impression.
Jones accounted for Bopara and Samit Patel, who made two and 13 respectively, while Stokes handed Stirling a second caught and bowled having made only three. Borthwick (15) and Chris Woakes (19 not out) saw their side beyond 200.