T20 World Cup 2022: Ireland Outplay England by 5 runs

As per the Duckworth-Lewis method, the English side were trailing by five runs. The umpires eventually decided to call it a day.

It was a thrilling encounter where Ireland shocked England. Rain helped a bit and Ireland were 5 runs ahead of the DLS par score after 14.3 overs. This was a huge upset for the English side at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.  Earlier, brilliant spells from Mark Wood (3/34), Liam Livingstone (3/17), and Sam Curran (2/31) stopped Ireland for just 157 runs. Andy Balbirnie (62) and Lorcan Tucker (34) built a crucial partnership an 82-run for the second wicket. 

While chasing the total, England were 105 for 5 in 14.3 overs and then Rain started pouring in the Super 12 match.  As per the Duckworth-Lewis method, the English side were trailing by five runs. The umpires eventually decided to call it a day.

This is not the very first time that Ireland has defeated England in an ICC event. Back in the 2011 World Cup, Ireland won by 3 wickets against England at Bengaluru. It was Kevin O'Brien’s heroics that helped the Irish side to dismantle the English side. 

Kevin O'Brien played a special knock of 113 off 63 deliveries and ended up hitting the fastest hundred in World Cup history. Ireland successfully chased down the total of 328 runs. 

"Yeah, especially with the ball in the first ten overs, I think we were poor with the execution and let Ireland to get away. We weren't consistent enough with the ball and bowled all over, and that played into their hands. We were good in the second half and pegged them back. That was why we bowled first after winning the toss, and with the weather around, it was an obvious decision. Maybe 30 runs too much gave away by us. The way we bowled in the second half showed Ireland how to bowl here. Myself getting out in the first over didn't help our cause. The rain got heavier and heavier, but we weren't down as we could have a comeback and played anytime. But there is a cut-off time for everything. Ireland is a great team. They outplayed us today. We made a mistake here and now, it is a tough group. Now, the game at MCG against Australia gets even bigger. The pressure will be there. But we need to play as a group and come at top", Jos Buttler said after the match.