Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali impress as England warm up for Ireland ODI series

Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali may be out of the Test reckoning for now but they warmed up for the one-day series against Ireland with standout knocks in the first intra-squad match at the Ageas Bowl.
The pair were the notable omissions from the Test set-up as they were named in the 24-man white-ball training group instead, and Bairstow muscled his way to 127 from 88 balls for a team led by Moeen against Eoin Morgan’s side.
Bairstow’s innings contained 16 fours and seven sixes while Moeen, who was on Tuesday appointed Morgan’s deputy for the three ODIs, proved no less belligerent as he made 85 off only 45 balls with seven boundaries and six maximums.
The duo’s efforts formed the bedrock of a sizeable total of 325 for nine in a 40-overs-a-side match, with some flexibility already shown as both Sam Hain and Liam Livingstone batted twice at the ‘bio-secure’ venue.
💥 @jbairstow21 is off to a flyer!
Watch all the action from Southampton 👉 https://t.co/YY8i2oikvA pic.twitter.com/xH5E2j0KKk
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 21, 2020
Neither was able to capitalise, Hain making nine off 18 balls and then 11 off 21 while Livingstone did at least show some enterprise towards the back end of the innings with 24 from 11 deliveries having been dismissed earlier for one.
Tom Banton was dismissed for a five-ball duck – although he may bat again when Morgan’s side attempts to chase down the mammoth total – as the majority of the scoring was left to the experienced duo of World Cup winners Bairstow and Moeen.
Leg-spinner Adil Rashid took four wickets, including that of good friend Moeen, but leaked 65 runs in his seven overs, with Bairstow routinely clearing the rope off his Yorkshire team-mate.
Saqib Mahmood conceded 76 runs in his eight overs and fellow Lancashire paceman Richard Gleeson was also expensive, finishing with 7-0-57-1, while David Willey took two for 58 in his first match in an England jersey since being dropped from the World Cup squad last year.
Latest
-
News
Angelo Mathews half-century holds up England’s bid for first Test victory
Sri Lanka were 302 for seven at tea for a lead of 16 runs.
-
News
Sri Lanka close in on England’s lead behind century from Lahiru Thirimanne
Sri Lanka trail by 44 at lunch on day three of the first Test.
-
News
Sri Lanka v England Day Three: Joe Root at the double but Sri Lanka show grit
Captain Root had ended day one on 66, day two on 168 and marched onwards to 228 on the third morning.
-
News
Jack Leach admits there is room for improvement as Sri Lanka frustrate England
Leach and Sam Curran struck for the tourists in the hosts’ second innings.
-
News
Joe Root’s double century keeps England in command despite rally from Sri Lanka
Captain Root had ended day one on 66, day two on 168 and marched onwards to 228 on the third morning.
-
News
England captain Joe Root reaches fine double century before Sri Lanka fight back
Root was the last man out for England after scoring 228 to record a fourth double ton for his country.
-
News
Captain Joe Root completes fine double century as England build formidable lead
Root became only the fifth England player to score a Test double hundred in Asia.
-
News
Sri Lanka v England Day 2: Joe Root excels alongside Dan Lawrence
The England captain and his new team-mate added 173 to build England’s advantage.
-
News
Nine rookies in Pakistan squad for South Africa series
Pakistan have included nine uncapped players in their 20-man squad for the two-Tests against South Africa, starting on January 26.
-
News
Labuschagne upset after not scoring ‘big’ hundred
Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne might have been the star of the show on the first day of the fourth Test against India.