England claim comfortable series win as Cox continues Hundred form

England have chased down a modest total of 154 in Malahide, finishing the rain-affected game with 17 balls to spare. Jordan Cox starred with the bat for the visitors, racing to 55 off 35 deliveries, as they marched to a 6-wicket win in the third and final T20I of the series against Ireland. The victory confirms a 2-0 series win for the tourists, with the second match being abandoned due to rain.

“I really struggled after New Zealand”

Cox has had a luckless start to his international career thus far. The 24-year-old was stripped of a Test debut in New Zealand at the end of last year, due to a broken thumb, sustained during a net session prior to England’s warm-up game in Queenstown. Having made a full recovery in time for the opening rounds of this year’s County Championship, the Essex star was once more included in England’s Test squad, this time for the one-off game against Zimbabwe. Having been in fine touch, Cox sustained a side-strain just two weeks out from the Test, and once again was resigned to withdraw from the squad.

Speaking after the game, Cox opened up about his unfortunate start to international life. “I really struggled after New Zealand. To have the opportunity to play for your country in Test cricket is something that I always dreamt of doing, and am still dreaming about doing. So to get that taken away was really hard.”

A player of the tournament award in last month’s Hundred was enough to earn the explosive top-order batter a late call-up for the Ireland tour. Having scored 367 runs at an average of 61.16, striking at 173 for the Oval Invincibles, it was a mystery as to why he was not included in England’s side for the first T20, earlier this week. With Sam Curran away for personal reasons, Cox finally got his chance – and there was only one way that he was going to play.

Having come off for injury in the first innings, jarring his right knee whilst taking his second diving catch of the game, concerns started to creep in that history was beginning to repeat itself. But Cox was not going to let that happen. “There wasn’t a chance that I wasn’t going to bat, because I might’ve had to wait (to play for England) another two years.”

As both Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell fell to masterful catches in the outfield, Cox joined the inform Phil Salt at the crease, effortlessly clipping his second delivery into the stands for six. Three more sixes and a further four boundaries saw the number 4 reach his half-century in 31 balls, before Ben White managed to get one past him and onto the stumps, leaving England 16 runs shy of victory.

Tom Banton struck the winning runs for the visitors, ending unbeaten on 37, as Phil Salt also contributed with 29 from 23 balls.

Baker’s nightmare start to international life continues

Of the six bowling options utilized by Jacob Bethell today, five of them fired for their skipper. The one that missed out – missed out miserably. 22-year-old Sonny Baker once again went awry on debut, having been presented his cap earlier in the day by former teammate and fellow King’s College, Taunton alumni, Tom Banton. Baker was handed the task of bowling the first over of the match, with Bethell having opted to bowl first on a sunny afternoon in Malahide.

Having come away with the most expensive figures for an Englishman in an ODI debut (0-73), against South Africa a few weeks prior, Baker had a lot to answer for today.

Two play-and-misses in his first over, and a back-of-a-length delivery that wrapped Ireland’s captain Paul Stirling in the rib cage, seemed to have settled the nerves. Baker’s final three overs told a different story. 44 runs conceded in his last 18 deliveries left the youngster with final figures of 0-52: the worst figures for an England bowler on T20I debut. Only Jimmy Anderson (1-64) and George Garton (1-57) conceded more runs on their T20I debut. Anderson managed to claim the wicket of Matthew Hayden, but was otherwise torn apart by an Australian batting lineup in 2007, which included Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds, and Michael Hussey. Baker, on the other hand, was faced with Gareth Delany, Ross Adair, and Ben Calitz.

When asked how Baker was holding up after today, Cox was keen to support his teammate. “(He’s) Fine, yeah… Cool. Move on, it’s T20 cricket. Next game, he’ll get three for three, and people will be saying that he’s the best bowler.”

Ireland’s lack of cricket shines through

The rest of England’s bowlers enjoyed a successful day out. Luke Wood (0-20) was the only other bowler to go wicketless, but managed to keep a grip on the fighting Irish as they looked to attack at the backend of the innings. Adil Rashid (3-29) was back to his best after a poor performance on Wednesday, bowling well in partnership with Rehan Ahmed (1-24), whose dexterous variations can provide much excitement to England fans. Jamie Overton (2-17) was rewarded for his relentless barrage of short balls, as Liam Dawson picked up 2-9 in just two overs.

Whilst the English bowlers were, for the most part, cutthroat, Ireland’s top order were out of touch. The hosts stumbled to 114-7 by the end of the 16th over, the only contribution of note till then coming from Ross Adair, slugging his way to 33 from 23 balls at the top of the order.

A brilliant knock from Gareth Delany buoyed the Irish total to 154-8 by the halfway stage, finishing unbeaten on 48 off 29 balls, including three sixes, having taken a particular liking to Sonny Baker.

Next up: New Zealand.