Phil Salt continued his impressive form with a score of 89 for England, following his unbeaten 141 against South Africa last week.
First T20, Malahide
Ireland 196-3 (20 overs): Tector 61* (36), Tucker 55 (36)
England 197-6 (17.4 overs): Salt 89 (46)
England won by four wickets and lead series 1-0
Phil Salt delivered another standout performance for England, securing a four-wicket victory over Ireland in the opening match of their three-game T20 series in Dublin.
The dynamic England opener blazed 89 runs from just 46 deliveries, falling narrowly short of a second consecutive century after being caught by Ross Adair on the final ball of the 15th over.
However, Salt’s contribution had already set the stage for England’s triumph, enabling them to surpass Ireland’s total of 196-3 with over two overs to spare.
In a match where England fielded a team without several of their regular stars, Jacob Bethell took the reins as captain for the first time. The 21-year-old contributed 24 runs off 16 balls before being dismissed.
Ireland, playing their first international fixture since a T20 victory against the West Indies on June 15, posted a competitive total, boosted by half-centuries from Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker.
But following their commanding 304-2 display against South Africa in Manchester, a revamped England side responded emphatically, despite a late fightback from Ireland.
This victory marks England’s first over Ireland in the T20 format, with the two teams set to meet again in Malahide on Friday and Sunday.
Salt-inspired England thrash Ireland in opening T20 – reaction
Bethell’s first act as stand-in captain for Harry Brook, on a day when he became the youngest player to captain an English team, was to win the toss and elect to bowl first.
Amid pre-match discussions about Ireland’s limited recent cricket, attention focused on how openers Paul Stirling and Ross Adair would perform.
While the pair appeared to be finding their footing in the early overs, Ireland reached 49-0 at the end of the powerplay, with Stirling showcasing his powerful hitting.
Two of the skipper’s four sixes landed on the roof of the hospitality tent at the north Dublin ground.
After a solid start, the opening partnership ended when Adair was caught on the boundary by Phil Salt off Liam Dawson’s bowling in the eighth over.
Shortly after, Stirling followed, with Will Jacks taking the catch off an Adil Rashid delivery.
Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker then increased the run rate, with Tector adding seven boundaries in his unbeaten 61 from 36 balls.
Tector reached his half-century with a six, before edging the penultimate delivery into Jos Buttler’s gloves.
Harry Tector became the fourth man to score 1,500 T20 runs for Ireland
Without Mark Adair and Josh Little, Matthew Humphreys opened the Irish bowling against Phil Salt, who was playing his first innings since his explosive century against South Africa.
England swiftly began their chase of 197.
After Barry McCarthy and Graham Hume struggled to contain England’s powerful hitting, Craig Young briefly slowed their progress in the fourth over, before Jos Buttler was caught by Curtis Campher off Humphreys’ bowling for 28 off 10 balls.
Despite the loss of their first wicket, England reached the end of the powerplay on 84-1, with Salt achieving his half-century in just 20 deliveries.
He survived being caught off a Tector no-ball and continued to dominate Ireland’s bowlers.
Bethell’s dismissal followed a six over the temporary stand, before Gareth Delany marked his 100th Irish cap with the wicket off Rehan Ahmed.
Even after Hume dismissed Sam Curran and Salt in the 15th over, England remained on course for victory, with Jamie Overton ultimately securing the winning runs with 20 deliveries remaining.
England batter Phil Salt: “I thought Ireland played well to get where they got. It was all about being confident and making that partnership with Jos to get off on the right foot.”
On missing out on the century: “I was annoyed to get out but not too annoyed about that to be honest. Coming away from home to a new ground and new conditions. Just getting the job done in the first one, I’m happy enough about that. I was slightly annoyed about the way I got out but looking back, it might have been quite greedy.”
England captain Jacob Bethell: “It feels pretty special. Winning the first one is always nice.
“A great feeling and can’t waiting to go again on Friday.”
Ireland captain Paul Stirling: “We’ll take all the positives we can out of it. I was happy to go out there and get going. Hopefully throughout this series we can improve in all areas. We couldn’t have asked for much more from our batters. To score 196 in the end was great.”