Stirling, Balbirnie Tons Help Ireland Chase Down Mammoth 329-Run Target In Southampton ODI, Pull Off 2011 WC Like Win Over England

Ireland chased down a daunting 329-run target set by England at the Ageas Bowl riding high on a double century partnership by skipper Andrew Balbirnie and Paul Sterling.

Ireland pulled one of their most remarkable wins in one day international cricket as belligerent tons from skipper Andrew Balbirnie and batting mainstay Paul Sterling helped the visitors beat hosts England comprehensively by seven wickets in the third and final ODI of the 3-match series played at Southampton on Tuesday. Ireland chased down a daunting 329-run target set by England at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton riding high on a double century partnership by skipper Balbirnie and Paul Sterling. It was only their second ODI win over their British Isles neighbours England and their match winning exploits were reminiscent of the upset win they pulled off over England in the 2011 World Cup held in India.

???? 255 runs ???? 21 fours, 6 sixes

Between them Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbirnie scored 77.5% of Ireland's total of 329 in yesterday's #ENGvIRE ODI ???? pic.twitter.com/9Li5Op0Ho9 — ICC (@ICC) August 5, 2020

In pursuit of a mammoth 329 target, Ireland got off to a breezy start courtesy a fiery 50-run partnership stitched by openers Stirling and Gareth Deland, with the former being the dominant partner contributing 36 of the runs in the 50-run stand. Skipper Balbirnie, who walked into the crease after the dismissal of opener Deland, then propelled the chase with a mammoth 214-run partnership for the second wicket with Steling. Balbirnie, who scored a blistering 142 runs off just 128 balls, did enough to take Ireland close to the daunting target before running himself out due to mix-up with his captain in the 42nd over.Balbirnie then stepped up the acceleration paddle with a flurry of boundaries and scored his ton before holding off to Sam Billings off Adil Rashid.

Records tumbled as Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbirnie put together a 214-run partnership to lead Ireland in a chase of 329 to win.#ENGvIRE REPORT ???? https://t.co/MH168rRQzo pic.twitter.com/bb2j8JmtZc

— ICC (@ICC) August 4, 2020

England seemed make a late comeback into the game but Harry Tector (29*) and O'Brien (21*) kept the chase on and helped Ireland register another famous win against England. Earlier in the match, English skipper Eion Morgan scored a belligerent ton to help his side post a mammoth 328-run total. Electing to field for the first time in the series, Irish skipper Balbirnie had things under control as Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow and James Vince were all dismissed before the score had reached 50. However, England skipper Eoin Morgan and Tom Banton put stitched together a 146-run stand to put the hosts back on top. Morgan was particularly belligerent as he hit his way to an 84-ball 106, which included 15 fours and four sixes. England had earlier taken a 2-0 lead in the series winning the first two games of the 3-match series. In a match full of twist and turns at the Ageas Bowl, the visitors, who had already lost the series, on Tuesday chased down the target of 329 in the final over to grab 10 crucial points in the Cricket World Cup Super League. Ireland started off steadily in pursuit of what would be their biggest-ever chase in ODIs, edging out their famous victory over England at the 2011 World Cup where they had chased down a target of 328, thanks to a 50-ball century from Kevin O'Brien. Brief scores: England 328 all out (Eoin Morgan 106, Tom Banton 58; Craig Young 3-53), Ireland 329-3 (Paul Stirling 142, Andrew Balbirnie 113; Adil Rashid 1-61)