AI Simulation, IRE vs ENG | Salt and Wood star as England take unassailable lead with comfortable win

‌Pitch & Weather

The pitch at Malahide was a fresh strip, offering some bounce and carry early on, but the short square boundaries made it yet another high-scoring contest.

The weather was clear with only a mild breeze throughout the afternoon, the perfect setting for a cricket match. 

Toss & Conditions

Ireland won the toss and elected to bat first.

Lineups

Ireland: Paul Stirling (c), Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), George Dockrell, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, Barry McCarthy, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Craig Young.

England: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jaacob Bethell (c), Rehan Ahmed, Sam Curran, Tom Banton, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood.

Match Report

On a sunny evening at Malahide, England produced another chasing masterclass as Phil Salt’s explosive half-century guided them past Ireland’s 189/7, with seven balls to spare, in the second T20I. The six-wicket win also sealed the three-match series in the visitors’ favour.

Ireland, after opting to bat, showed their intent right away as captain Paul Stirling crunched three sixes inside the powerplay. His 41 off 27, which included four fours and three sixes, set the tone, with Harry Tector ensuring that the home side continued in the same vein through the middle overs. Tector, fresh from his form in the first match, struck seven fours and two sixes, racing to 64 off 38 deliveries. Meanwhile, Lorcan Tucker chipped in with a breezy 22, while Gareth Delany’s late cameo pushed the total close to 190. Luke Wood was the most impressive with his pace and accuracy, claiming 3/33 in four overs, while Rashid’s experience got him two wickets and also kept the middle overs in check.

England’s reply was brutal as openers Phil Salt and Jos Buttler treated the Irish seamers with disdain, adding 90 in just seven overs. Salt’s strokeplay, with a mix of cuts, pulls, and lofted drives, neutralized the Irish attack, while Buttler’s 44 off 21 meant there was no respite for the hosts’ bowlers. Ireland’s best hope came when Graham Hume dismissed both Buttler and Bethell, sparking momentary nerves at 132/3. But England eased home in the 19th over, courtesy of composed unbeaten knocks from Sam Curran and Tom Banton. Salt top-scored in the game with his 72 coming off just 36 balls, at a strike rate of 200, and included nine fours and three sixes.

Player of the Match

Phil Salt was adjudged the Player of the Match for his 36-ball 72, which dismantled Ireland’s defense and made the chase a formality.

Scorecard