Scores Upcoming Results
25-Jul-2019 03:58:00 GMT
Eng vs Ire, only Test, The Lord's, day 1

Murtagh magic through hapless England as Ireland take charge

England 0 for 0 and 85 (Murtagh 5-13) trail Ireland 207 (Balbirnie 55) by 122 runs

London: Ireland ended England's World Cup honeymoon in dramatic style on Wednesday, bowling out the host nation for a derisory 85 on the first day at Lord's as they eyed one of the biggest shocks in Test history.

Tim Murtagh took a stunning five for 13 in nine overs on a ground where he plays for Middlesex.

Ireland then consolidated their position by making 207 in reply for a first-innings lead of 122.

When they were all out, there was still time for one more over and England felt compelled to have nightwatchman Jack Leach, rather than a specialist batsman, face Murtagh.

Leach somehow survived a maiden and England closed on nought for nought in their second innings.

Appropriately, it was tailender Murtagh who took Ireland into a hundred-run lead in their first Test against England after the visitors suffered a slump of their own when he pulled veteran paceman Stuart Broad for four.

Ten days after England won the World Cup at the same ground against New Zealand and a week ahead of the Ashes, Ireland exposed their batting fragility in brutal fashion.

Murtagh's ability was no secret but his superb return was the stuff of schoolboy fiction.

The 37-year-old seamer, who recently took his 800th first-class wicket, gave a classic demonstration of his skill after England captain Joe Root won the toss and batted on an emerald green pitch prepared by Irish groundsman Karl McDermott.

England's collapse followed their 77 all out against the West Indies in Barbados in January.

The home side were soon in deep trouble despite Root's insistence they did not want to "sleepwalk" into this match, with bigger challenges ahead.

Test debutant Jason Roy, fresh from his World Cup heroics, fell for five when Murtagh, short of express pace but remorselessly attacking the top of off stump, squared him up, with first slip Paul Stirling holding the ensuing edge.

Debutant Mark Adair (3-32) had his first Test wicket when Denly was leg before wicket and he also captured the prize wicket of Root, plumb lbw for two.

And when Murtagh had Moeen Ali caught behind for a duck, the seamer had a place on the honours board for all those who take five wickets in a Test innings at Lord's.

Stone stylishly drove three fours in four balls from Stuart Thompson before he was bowled by Adair to end a stunning morning's play.

Ireland made a steady start before captain William Porterfield, hit on the head by a Stone bouncer, pulled Curran to midwicket on 14.

Curran also bowled James McCollum but Balbirnie had a reprieve when, on 10, he edged Broad between Bairstow and first slip Root for a chance that belonged to the wicketkeeper.

Stirling had made 17 when Root, compounding a miserable day for the captain, dropped a slip catch off the unlucky Broad, leading the attack in the absence of the injured James Anderson.

Balbirnie rubbed salt into England's wounds with a 56-ball fifty that included nine fours.

At tea, Ireland were 132-2 but they lost four wickets for nine runs, with Balbirnie bowled for 55 by Stone who, in common with Broad and Curran, took three wickets.


Scores Upcoming Results
Related links

Top