England crush Ireland in Bristol

England proved far too strong for Ireland in Bristol as they chased down the 127 runs they needed to win in just over twenty of the fifty allotted overs.
Ireland got off to a bright start racing to 40 off 31 balls before things began to fall apart.
Paul Stirling’s stand and deliver style brought him 20 off 15 before he gave himself room and left a gaping chasm between bat and pad for Mark Wood to exploit, clipping leg stump and Ireland were 40 for 1.
Ed Joyce (23) went in the next over trapped leg before by David Willey in a dire loss of concentration.
William Porterfield and Andrew Balbirnie did a half decent job of consolidating moving the total to 81 at the end of the 17th over.
Balbirnie (30) then played a simply dreadful flat-footed waft to gift Jake Ball a wicket in the 18th over.
England introduced the dual spin of Adil Rashid and part-timer Joe Root that would see Ireland crumble in a heap.
Rashid tore through the Irish middle and lower order picking up 5 for 27 in 8 overs while Root achieved career bast figures of 2 for 9 from five overs.
In reply England got off to a shaky start with both openers looking out of touch, while Jason Roy departed early chipping Peter Chase to short midwicket for a duck, Hales was able to play himself in after surviving a few early scares.
Hales (55) played his shots throughout his knock but some were more convincing than others, with Ireland unfortunate dropping him twice inside the first five overs. England won’t be overly thrilled with their opening pair at this stage and may want to give Sam Billings a run at the top.
Joe Root (49*) was solid and would see England home despite losing Hales and skipper Eoin Morgan (10) with Jonny Bairstow (10*) seeing out the match with him.
England take a 1-0 lead into the second and final ODI on Sunday 7 May.
Latest
-
News
Lancashire slip to first defeat of Blast season against Birmingham
The Lightning lost their last seven wickets for 36 runs in 35 balls as they were bowled out for just 98.
-
News
England will not alter aggressive approach during Ashes – Brendon McCullum
England face Ireland before their build-up to the Ashes opener will contain days off, training and ‘quality time’.
-
News
Tom Banton inspires Somerset to third win from three at start of Blast campaign
Glamorgan lost regular wickets and were all out for 153 in 19.4 overs.
-
News
James Anderson and Ollie Robinson should be fit for Ashes – Brendon McCullum
The England seamers will miss the one-off Test against Ireland, as expected, but should be fit for the Ashes opener.
-
News
ICC chief Wasim Khan accepts Tests and franchise leagues must learn to coexist
Jason Roy last week cancelled his England incremental contract to play in Major League Cricket.
-
T20 Blast
Tom Banton inspires Somerset to third win from three at start of Blast campaign
Glamorgan lost regular wickets and were all out for 153 in 19.4 overs.
-
County Cricket
Has ‘Bazball’ taken hold in county cricket? What the numbers tell us
Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes are keen to see their England side’s aggressive approach replicated in the domestic game.
-
England
Opening batter Ben Duckett backed to thrive long-term in second England chance
Since his recall late last year, Duckett has been the model opening batter for the regime under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.
-
Women's Cricket
Alex Hartley: Taking indefinite break from cricket was ‘hardest decision’ ever
Hartley announced on her BBC No Balls Podcast on Friday that she had been “struggling mentally” for several months.
-
England
England will keep embracing risks during Ashes despite ‘blip’ – Daryl Mitchell
England have enjoyed some rousing successes since Ben Stokes and Kiwi favourite Brendon McCullum took over the Test team.