Zeecric Bureau
Georgetown, March 30: England won their first Super 8 clash against Ireland by 48 runs. Ireland was dismissed for the score of 218 runs in 48.1 overs. Niall O’ Brien once again showed that he is a top class batsman as he notched up 63 runs.
Coming into chase England’s score of 266 runs, Ireland was jolted in the very first over when James Anderson dismissed hard hitter Jeremy Bray for a duck. Sajid Mahmood brilliantly ran out Eoin Morgan to send Ireland in a tizzy. Morgan could add only two runs to the score.
It then took the likes of Andrew Flintoff to break a strong partnership of 61 runs between William Porterfield and Niall O’Brien. William Porterfield succumbed under the pressure build up by the English side He provided a simple catch to Ian Bell. Porterfield made 32 runs from 68 balls.
Ireland never looked like recovering after Porterfield’s wicket fell. Andre Botha then fell hapless victim to Monty Panesar as tried to hit the ball all the way but was caught by Andrew Flintoff. He made 13 runs from 37 balls.
Meanwhile, Niall O’Brien hammered a credible fifty to prove that he has class and will be a huge hindrance in opposition’s victory will. His fifty came in 66 balls.
Niall O’Brien could not stay on the crease for long after his fifty as he fell to Michael Vaughan. Wicket keeper Paul Nixon stumped him as he got forward to hit Vaughan’s delivery. N Obrien made a prolific 63 off 91 balls.
Panesar then clinched another wicket Kevin O’ Brien was dismissed. Kevin was declared out leg before the wickets. K Obrien made 12 runs from 19 balls.
Andrew Flintoff bowled a yorker to dismiss Irish captain Trent Johnston. Johnston was clean bowled by Flintoff. Johnston made 27 runs from 21 balls.
Dave Langford Smith was the next one to go as he was caught behind by Paul Nixon on Flintoff’s delivery. Smith made 1 run from 2 balls. Andrew White was then caught by Paul Nixon as tried to sweep Ian Bell’s delivery. White made 38 runs from 35 balls.
Kyle McCallan was the last one to be dismissed as he was clean bowled by Andrew Flintoff. McCallan made 5 runs from 16 balls.
Earlier, Paul Collingwood made 90 beneficial runs to help England attain 266 runs for the loss of seven wickets after Ireland`s bowlers used the slow wicket superbly in their World Cup Super Eights match on Friday.
England were tottering at 23 for two and then 113 for four before Collingwood salvaged a decent score later on.
England opener Ed Joyce who had played for Ireland until 2005, was the first one to be dismissed by the Irish bowlers. He gave his former team mates an early present when he left a Boyd Rankin ball on off stump to be bowled for one.
Rankin was gifted another wicket in the sixth over as England captain Michael Vaughan, who elected to bat, edged a tentative defensive shot behind for six.
It was then the turn of Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell to add 66 runs before Bell was adjudged to have gloved medium-pacer Kevin O`Brien to his brother Niall O`Brien standing up behind the stumps. Bell made 31 runs from 74 balls.
Pietersen departed immediately after Bell as he clipped off-spinner Kyle McCallan to William Porterfield at short mid-wicket to leave England four down. He fell two runs short of a deserved fifty.
Collingwood and Andrew Flintoff then took the reins as they shared 81 runs amongst themselves. Flintoff was then bowled by captain Trent Johnston for 43 while trying to hit a difficult cut.
England were unchanged from their last group win over Kenya with medium pace all-rounder Ravi Bopara keeping his place ahead of spinner Jamie Dalrymple despite the expected slow wicket.
The Irish welcomed back captain Trent Johnston after he recovered from a shoulder problem. He replaced John Mooney.
Teams
England - Ed Joyce, Michael Vaughan (captain), Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Ravi Bopara, Paul Nixon (wicketkeeper), Sajid Mahmood, James Anderson, Monty Panesar.
Ireland - Jeremy Bray, William Porterfield, Eoin Morgan, Niall O`Brien (wicketkeeper), Andre Botha, Kevin O`Brien, Andrew White, Kyle McCallan, Trent Johnston (captain), Dave Langford-Smith, Boyd Rankin
Umpires: Simon Taufel (AUS) and Billy Doctrove (WIS)
TV replays: Daryl Harper (AUS)
Reserve: Steve Bucknor (WIS)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)
Pitch condition: Hard and slight green
Bureau Report
