ENG vs IRE 2023 | Josh Tongue’s Five-Fer On Debut Highlights England Demolition of Ireland
Josh Tongue celebrates a wicket with teammates on Day 3 (Twitter)
Ireland’s lower-order frustrated England for a major part of Day 3 before eventually succumbing to 362 in their second innings. A fightback orchestrated by Andy McBrine and Mark Adair prompted the Englishmen to bat again, despite having conceded a 352-run first innings advantage to the hosts earlier in the Test.
It took just four balls for English opener Zak Crawley to wipe off the deficit thereafter, as hosts romped to a 10-wicket victory in their one-off Test against Ireland at Lord’s.
McBrine, Adair defy Tongue to delay inevitable
England’s debutant Josh Tongue, who broke Ireland’s top order late on Day 2, added two more wickets to his tally to complete his maiden Test five-fer. The speedster dismissed four of Ireland’s top five batters, before sending Fionn Hand cheaply back to the pavilion.
Meanwhile, Ireland, who resumed their day at 97-3, found themselves in further trouble at 162-6 before Andy McBrine and Mark Adair doubled the score with fighting 80s in the middle.
The duo stretched the visitors’ total past the 300-run mark during their 163-run stand, which concluded with Adair’s departure from the crease. The 27-year-old, known for his bowling, clubbed a Test best 88, while his partner McBrine remained undefeated at 86.
The two batters seem to have taken a leaf out of England’s BazBall approach, as they scored their runs at nearly six-an-over.
Apart from Tongue’s five-fer for England, the remaining four utilised bowlers all claimed a wicket each, including Stuart Broad to complete his six for the game. The pace veteran got himself the final scalp of the innings to complete Ireland’s fighting response at 362, setting his side a mere 11-run target.
Crawley wipes off target with ease
It took opener Zak Crawley just a couple of minutes to wipe out England’s 11-run target, as the burly right-handed whacked three boundaries of his first four deliveries. His partner and first-innings centurion Ben Duckett was reduced to a mere spectator at the other end, thus bringing an end to their four-day fixture on Day 3 itself.
Number three Ollie Pope was adjudged ‘Player of the Match’, considering his majestic 205-run knock was one of the prime dividends in his side’s 10-wicket win.
England’s victory marks their 11th from just 13 matches ever since their new captain-coach management took over last year. With a day to spare at Lord’s, Ben Stokes and co. now look forward to the upcoming Ashes at home against familiar foes Australia.
Brief Scores:
Ireland: 172 all out (56.2 overs)
James McCollum 36 (108), Curtis Campher 33 (79)
Stuart Broad 5-51 (17), Jack Leach 3-35 (14)
England: 524-4d (82.4)
Ollie Pope 205 (208), Ben Duckett 182 (178)
Andy McBrine 2-99 (13.4), Graham Hume 1-85 (17)
Ireland: 362 (86.2)
Mark Adair 88 (76), Andy McBrine 86* (115)
Josh Tongue 5-66 (21), Joe Root 1-59 (10)
England: 12-0 (0.4)
Zak Crawley 12* (4)
England won by 10 wickets
 "Aakash Saini")
