(Cricket News) On the inaugural day of the match at Lord’s, Ireland’s batting innings concluded with a score of 172 runs as Stuart Broad exhibited a remarkable display, securing five wickets. In response, England took a favorable position as their opening batsmen recorded rapid half-centuries.
Ben Stokes won the coin toss and elected to bowl first, recognizing the overcast conditions. Fionn Hand had a memorable day as he made his debut for Ireland, receiving his cap from PJ Moor before the match commenced.
The opening four overs for Ireland’s batsmen were relatively calm until Stuart Broad intervened, delivering a forceful ball that struck Moor’s pad directly in front, resulting in his dismissal.
Within the first half-hour, two more wickets tumbled. Andrew Balbirnie’s brief stay ended after just five balls as he edged Broad’s delivery outside the off stump to Zak Crawley at second slip. Two balls later, Harry Tector also departed, flicking the ball straight to Matthew Potts positioned at leg slip, rewarding the planned fielding placement.
With the score at 19-3, Ireland was in a precarious position, and Paul Stirling narrowly escaped becoming Broad’s third victim in the same over. Initially given out lbw, Stirling opted for a review, which showed the ball missing the stumps down the leg side, granting Ireland a crucial reprieve.
A 45-run partnership between James McCollum and Stirling brought stability to Ireland’s innings in the subsequent hour. Stirling played aggressively, striking boundaries off Josh Tongue and Jack Leach at a brisk pace.
Towards the end of the morning session, Stirling attempted a forceful sweep off Leach but ended up gloving the ball, allowing Bairstow to take an easy catch and dismissing him for 30, marking Ireland’s fourth wicket.
After lunch, McCollum continued to exhibit resilience, reaching 29 from 93 balls before falling victim to a well-pitched delivery from Broad, resulting in an edge through to Joe Root at first slip. Lorcan Tucker followed suit shortly after, getting dismissed by Leach.
As the afternoon progressed, Curtis Campher displayed excellent form, hitting a cover drive off Broad for a boundary and timing a pull shot off Tongue for another four. Andy McBrine joined in the partnership’s progress by confidently pulling Potts behind square. However, McBrine became Potts’ victim, nicking the ball to Bairstow after scoring 19 runs.
Ireland managed to reach the Tea break without losing any further wickets. Shortly after the break, Broad completed his five-wicket haul, dislodging Mark Adair’s off-stump with an inswinging delivery. This marked Broad’s third five-wicket haul at Lord’s and his first since 2013.
Following Adair’s dismissal, Ireland’s innings swiftly lost momentum. Campher’s stumps were shattered as he attempted a bold move down the wicket against Leach, and five balls later, Fionn Hand nicked one behind, leading to the conclusion of Ireland’s innings at 172 runs.
In the evening sunlight, England’s opening batsmen made significant progress in erasing Ireland’s lead. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett raced to a fifty partnership in just 7.2 overs, soon surpassing the 100-run mark.
Crawley had a stroke of luck during his innings, reaching his half-century off 39 balls with a few inside edges finding the boundary. However, Hand managed to hold on to a spectacular caught-and-bowled chance to dismiss Crawley.
Duckett and Ollie Pope ensured England reached the close of play without further setbacks, with Ireland’s first innings lead reduced to a mere 20 runs. England will resume their innings at 152-1 tomorrow morning.
MATCH SUMMARY
England v Ireland, Only Test match, Day One, Lord’s, 1st June 2023
Ireland 172 (56.2 overs; James McCollum 36, Curtis Campher 33; Stuart Broad 5-51)
England 152-1 (25 overs; Ben Duckett 60*, Zak Crawley 56; Fionn Hand 1-42)
Ireland lead by 20 runs.
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