David Willey and Sam Billings proved their expertise:
David Willey along with Sam Billings steered the world champion England team to a victory over Ireland by six wickets on Thursday at Southampton in the 1ST ODI. Willey, the left-arm bowler is playing his 1st One-Day International match since being left out of the world cup winning team of England for Jofra Archer and claimed his career-best 5 wickets haul by conceding 30 runs. The Ireland team dismissed for just 172 runs.
On the other hand, Sam Billings, who gets involved in this match as a replacement of Kent teammate- Joe Denyl scored outstanding unbeaten 67 runs with 11 boundaries. With Eoin Morgan, the World Cup-winning captain, Billings managed to share an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 96 runs.
After losing the toss, team Ireland slumped to make 28 runs with the loss of 5 wickets as Willey took 4 wickets by giving just 12 runs. The former South African cricketer and now representing Ireland, Curtis Campher held strong and made unbeaten 59 runs in debut. With Andy McBrine, who scored 40 runs, he shared 66 runs of the partnership after Ireland was at risk of being out for under 100 runs when it was already 79-7.
David Willey struck with only the fourth ball of the game when Paul Stirling knocked a piece out of him to Morgan at midwicket. When captain Andy Balbinie was caught behind driving at David Willey, Ireland was 7-2.
Before Gareth Delany struck Willey directed to backward spot, Delany hit five boundaries and made 22 runs. On the next ball, Willey had Lorcan Tucker lbw for a duck to leave Ireland at 28-5.
Campher Went On
Curtis Campher survived the hat-trick ball and carried on to finish a splendid 103-ball half-century. The admirable 50-ball Century of Kevin O’Brien set up a historic Ireland victory over team England in the 2011 World Cup, scored 22 runs before he dismissed by leg spinner, Adil Rashid. Before Willey out the last player, Craig Young to conclude the match, McBrine dragged Tom Curran to deep square leg.
In 47 One-Day Internationals, Willey’s performance was the best and overcame his old record of 4-34 in Cardiff against Sri Lanka in 2016. In reply, Ireland felt a dangerous blow in the first over only when Barry McCarthy left after bowling just five deliveries due to suffering from a hamstring injury. However, off-spinner McBrine dismissed Jonny Bairstow lbw for two runs before opening batsman Roy felt leg before to Young.
This ODI match was the first 50-over home match of team England since they defeated team New Zealand in last year’s final match in World Cup at Lord’s.
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