Jordan Cox hit 55 off 35 balls at a sold-out Malahide for a comfortable England win to seal their T20 series 2-0, after restricting Ireland to 154.
Cox had been eager for a return to international cricket after a broken thumb ruled him out of a Test debut against New Zealand, and an abdominal injury sidelined him from the Zimbabwe series. He even injured his knee early on while taking a catch but returned to score his maiden international fifty after coming in at 33 for two.
Ireland’s Curtis Campher took a stunning catch to dismiss Jos Buttler for a second-ball duck, but it was Harry Banton who calmly hit the winning run, finishing unbeaten on 37 with 17 balls to spare. England’s lone disappointment was Sonny Baker, who struggled again on white-ball debut this month, conceding 54 runs in his four overs.
Dublin’s chilly, wet conditions—peaking at just 13°C with delays due to showers—offered little resemblance to what awaits these teams at the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. England stuck to their spin-heavy strategy, a clear preview of their tournament plan. While pacer Jamie Overton impressed with 2 for 17 from four tight overs, spinners Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson were the stars, combining for 5 wickets and 38 runs from six overs. Rehan Ahmed also made an impact, catching Ross Adair off a slog sweep after Adair’s lively 33 from 23 balls.
Dawson claimed key early wickets, including Paul Stirling on review and Harry Tector caught on the reverse sweep. Rashid was hit for six by Ireland debutant Ben Calitz but soon caught him attempting the same shot again, then trapped Barry McCarthy lbw first ball. From 102 for 7, only Gareth Delany’s resilient 48 not out stopped Ireland from being bowled out.
Baker, who leaked 76 runs on ODI debut earlier this month, had another tough outing. Adair targeted him early with a six over mid-off, and Delany punished him at the death with consecutive sixes over deep backward square leg. Delany controlled the strike expertly, facing 25 of the final 28 balls, and registered his highest score against a Full Member nation.
Baker now holds one of the costliest figures for an England T20I debutant, having conceded 128 runs across 11 international overs.
