MALBOURNE : Minnows Ireland pulled off a huge upset on Wednesday, stunning world number two England by five runs with a fine bowling display in a rain-affected match to throw the Twenty20 World Cup wide open.

After being sent in to bat, Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie (62) led his team to 92-1 off 10 overs before a mid-order collapse saw them all out for 157 with four balls remaining. But England slumped to 29-3 with just one boundary in the first five overs as the Irish bowlers found pace and movement, and they struggled to get any momentum.

Eighteen minutes were lost to rain at the beginning of the game and the players were taken off again with England on 105-5 off 14.3 overs just as Moeen Ali was getting into his stride. England were five runs behind on the DLS scoring method, giving Ireland a famous victory when the game was called off a few minutes later. It was Ireland’s second massive upset of the tournament after they beat West Indies in the first round to send the two-time champions home. England were among the title favourites and heavily-fancied to beat Ireland after opening their tournament with a fice-wicket win over Afghanistan at the weekend. Instead the shock defeat has thrown Group 1 wide open with Australia, Sri Lanka, Ireland and England all now with one win and one loss.

Unbeaten New Zealand and Afghanistan play later on Wednesday. Morning drizzle cleared for the toss at an eerily quiet MCG after compared to the electric atmosphere when 90,000 packed the venue on Sunday for compared India incredible last-ball win over Pakistan.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 27 2022

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