Cox leads England to T20 series win over Ireland

Third T20, Malahide

Ireland 154-8 (20 overs): Delany 48* (29); Rashid 3-29

England 155-4 (17.1 overs): Cox 55 (35), Banton 37* (26)

England won by six wickets; triumph bid 2-0

Scorecard

England coasted to a six-wicket triumph successful nan 3rd T20 against Ireland to triumph nan bid acknowledgment to a half-century from Jordan Cox.

After Phil Salt led England to victory successful nan first lucifer connected Wednesday, and Friday's gathering was washed retired without a shot bowled, nan triumph secured a 2-0 triumph for nan visitors successful what was nan first ever T20 bid betwixt nan sides.

Ireland group nan visitors a target of 155 aft an innings wherever they were held good successful cheque by England's bowling attack.

Adil Rashid led nan measurement pinch 3 wickets for 29 runs, but Jamie Overton and Liam Dawson some had productive spells erstwhile taking a brace apiece too.

Sonny Baker, who was making his T20 debut aft a costly one-day world front against South Africa this month, was nan only objection arsenic nan 22-year-old allowed 52 runs without taking a wicket.

After Ireland took a brace of wickets successful nan powerplay, Cox's 55 group nan level for victory, which was sealed by Tom Banton pinch 17 balls remaining.

Before Salt quickly eradicated immoderate uncertainty complete Wednesday's result, Ireland would person felt their 196 successful nan bid opener represented a competitory total.

However, aft England's stand-in skipper Jacob Bethell again won nan flip and put nan hosts into bat, Sunday's innings was a overmuch much laboured affair.

With nan dense rainfall overnight ensuring a slower wicket, conditions were ever going to make things much challenging pinch nan bat.

But nan variety and subject of England's bowling played its portion too, pinch their spinners taking six of nan 8 wickets.

While opener Ross Adair produced 33 from 23 deliveries, earlier falling to nan bowling of Rehan Ahmad successful nan first complete aft nan powerplay, Ireland's apical bid struggled to people astatine a complaint of amended than a tally per ball.

It took an 123-run business from Loran Tucker and Harry Tector to settee things connected Wednesday but Ireland were ne'er capable to find their hit successful this bid finale.

Only against Baker, whose first 2 overs brought 24 runs, could they accelerate their run-rate.

It took nan presence of Gareth Delany, who led nan measurement pinch an unbeaten 48 disconnected 29 deliveries from number, to amended matters - but moreover connected nan slower pitch, 155 ne'er felt a full apt to beryllium defended.

Cox had not been named successful nan first squad for this bid and was added only aft his starring domiciled for nan Oval Invincibles successful The Hundred, wherever he was nan starring run-scorer and named Most Valuable Player.

One of 2 changes from Wednesday's win, his return to nan starting broadside represented his first world outing since November and a first T20 for England successful complete a year.

Injuries costs him his Test debut successful nan intervening months, first against New Zealand past wintertime and past against Zimbabwe successful May.

After appearing to injure his knee erstwhile making nan drawback for nan wicket of Ross Adair, location was a clip connected Sunday day erstwhile it appeared luck was to beryllium against him again.

Ultimately fresh to bat, he came to nan crease astatine a clip erstwhile England had grounded to make nan charismatic commencement they would person sought successful their reply.

After their pursuit was delayed by rainfall successful betwixt innings, they were 57-2 aft nan powerplay. Brilliant catches from Curtis Campher and Delany accounted for nan wickets of Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell respectively, nan erstwhile for a two-ball duck.

However, Cox steadied nan ship. Occasionally hobbling betwixt nan wickets, he radiated 8 boundaries, including a six complete nan grandstand, done a master innings that took nan crippled distant from Ireland earlier he was bowled by Ben White for 55.

England spinner Adil Rashid, speaking connected TNT Sports: "There was a spot of acquisition for nan spinners but we bowled exceptionally good arsenic a unit. We had to accommodate to what paces were required and arsenic a group we did very well.

"We are each looking for to it [next year's T20 World Cup]. We person New Zealand and Sri Lanka truthful reliable times up but breathtaking times for England arsenic a group."

Ireland skipper Paul Stirling: "We took a batch of positives from nan week.

"When you play against England I don't deliberation you cognize what is simply a winning score. We were astir apt 15 short nary matter who we were playing. Proud of nan lads and nan measurement they played today."

England skipper Jacob Bethell: "I couldn't person dreamed it immoderate better. The rained retired crippled was unfortunate but to travel retired 2-0 winners successful my first bid arsenic skipper is simply a awesome feeling.

"We were bully and fierce passim nan full week."