Southampton: Riding on Jonny Bairstow’s quickfire 82 off 41, England beat Ireland by 4 wickets in the 2nd ODI to seal the three-match series, here at The Rose Bowl.
Ireland scored 212-9 in their 50 overs, with newcomer Curtis Campher again top-scoring with 68 off 87 balls. In reply, England chased down the target with 4 wickets in hand and 17.3 overs to spare on Saturday.
While chasing the target, Jason Roy fell for a duck, but Jonny Bairstow gave England an explosive start. He brought up his fifty from just his 21st ball, equalling Eoin Morgan’s record for England’s fastest ODI fifty.
Campher’s introduction with the ball got the breakthrough as he dismissed James Vince’s. The seamer also got Tom Banton soon after, for the second time in the series.
Bairstow continued his assault before getting out for a 41-ball 82. By the time Bairstow got out, he had reduced the equation to 82 runs needed from 34 overs.
England lost a flurry of wickets after this and were reduced to 137/6 at one point. Sam Billings (46 not out) and David Willey (47 not out) then combined for a 76-run partnership, to seal the series.
Earlier, Ireland won the toss, and elected to bat first again. David Willey,who had claimed five wickets in last match, again made early breakthroughs, removing both openers within his first 19 balls.
Andrew Balbirnie and Harry Tector looked to settle things down, and saw off both opening bowlers before the former fell to an innocuous delivery from James Vince.
Adil Rashid claimed the next three wickets (3-34), which led him to 150 ODI wickets, making him the first spinner to reach the mark for England.
Campher, coming into the match off the back of a fifty on debut in the first ODI, again showed application. He put on fifty partnerships with both Simi Singh and Andy McBrine, reaching a second ODI fifty in the process.
Saqib Mahmood finally dismissed the all-rounder for 68 as he edged a catch to third man in the penultimate over of the innings. Topley got a feather behind from McBrine off the final ball of the innings, as Ireland finished on 212/9.
The final ODI will be played at the same venue on Tuesday, with Ireland still searching for their first points in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League, while England will be looking to maintain their perfect start in the tournament. (UNI)
