ICC Men’s Super Cup Championship
3rd ODI: England Vs Ireland played at Ageas Bowl, Southampton
Ireland 329/3 in 49.5 Overs (PR Stirling 142, A Balbrine 113, HT Tector 29*, KJ O’Brian 21*) beat England 328 All Out in 49.5 Overs (EJG Morgan 106, T Benton 58, DJ Willey 51, TK Curran 38*, CA Young 3/53, JB Little 2/62, C Campher 2/68 ) by 7 wickets .
England Won The series 2-1
Player of The Match: Paul Stirling
World cricket has not seen many occasions a bottom ranked team chasing a huge target of 329 runs win an ODI match scoring with ease 329/3. Yes that has been accomplished by minnow Ireland in the third and final match against the same team that so easily won the first two matches and was looking great match posting 328 batting first.
England playing without 5-6 first choice players very easily wrapped up the series against bottom ranked Ireland winning the first two ODIs with ease and comfort. As such experts never in the wildest of imagination expected down and out Ireland would bounce back in vengeance and rock the favorites with table turning performances. Even this writer completed 75 percent of the match report after England posted a huge score of 328 batting first, but made a mistake again that in a game of glorious uncertainty never should be taken any team for granted. Ireland’s main stay Paul Stirling (142 in 128 balls) and A Ballbrine (113 in 112 balls) playing the innings of their life turned the match upside down.
Their milestone setting 214 runs second wicket partnership set the foundation of the historic win for Ireland. The tourists could cruise home earlier had not been Stirling ran himself out when batting smoothly striking 9 boundaries and 6 over boundaries. Standing strongly on firm foundation Tector and O’ Brian climbed the mount Everest blasting unfinished 50 runs partnership. Ireland won by 7 wickets with a ball to spare. For his superlative batting Paul Sterling was adjudged man of the match.
Earlier batting first England set up a massive target of 329 to chase mainly due to characteristic 106 in 84 deliveries by Eoin Morgan. This innings he played batting at his customary position at 4. Roy, Bairstow, Vince failed to impress. Benton scored 58, DJ Willey scoring 51 strengthened his claim for a spot in the team against stronger opposition. At innings break England was looking good for a comprehensive series white wash.
This Ireland team was looking a bit rusty in the first two matches with their old guards Stirling, Ballbrine, O’Brian not contributing much. They required to show some fight. Who knew that they would choose such a match to rock back. Anyway the brilliance of the senior pros produced a nail bitting finish. We are sure cricket admirers all over the world thoroughly enjoyed the thrilling contest of bat and ball during this COVID pandemic.
BDST: 1145 HRS, AUG 05, 2020
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