Ireland upsets England in rain-hit game at MCG

Andrew Balbirnie's 62 runs off 47 balls helped Ireland to defeat England by 5 runs (DLS Method). Ireland scored 157/10 in 19.2 overs, and England struggled to get going in the chase. When the rain began to fall heavily, England was 5 runs behind as per the DLS method. As the rain continued to fall, the umpires decided to call the game off.

Great start by Ireland in Powerplay:-

The match was delayed a few times due to rain, but no overs were lost. Ireland lost Paul Stirling in the third over, but Andrew Balbirnie and Lorcan Tucker played superbly. Tucker hammered Woakes for 11 runs in the fourth over and smashed Sam Curran for 14 runs in the final over of the powerplay. Ireland's score after 6 overs was 59-1.

Balbirnie, Tucker partnership:-

Balbirnie and Tucker's 82-run partnership proved critical for Ireland. Both hitters faced England bowlers and hammered them all over the park. Balbirnie took on Woakes and smashed him for 18 runs in the 10th over.  While both batters were looking excellent in the middle, Tucker got run out.

Ireland's collapse:-

Mark Wood, Sam Curran, and Liam Livingstone were outstanding with the ball for England. Mark Wood returned to the attack and dismissed Tector on a duck. Balbirnie scored his eighth T20I fifty and continued to attack England's bowlers, but wickets continued to tumble at the other end. Mark Wood and Liam Livingstone both picked three wickets each. Sam Curran removed McCarthy and Fionn Hand in the same over, and Ben Stokes dismissed Joshua Little in the final over of the innings. Ireland was 103/1 in the 12th over and lost 9 wickets for 54 runs before being all out on 157 runs with four balls remaining.

England's Chase:-

In the first over, Joshua Little removed Jos Buttler, who edged the ball to the wicketkeeper. Little gave Ireland its second breakthrough when he dismissed Alex Hales, and Fionn Hand dismissed Stokes in the final over of the powerplay, restricting England to 37/3 in the powerplay.

Malan and Harry Brook stitched 38 run partnership, but both batsmen struggled to get going.  Dockrell removed Harry Brook in the 11th over, while McCarthy dismissed Malan in the 14th over. Moeen Ali made a brief cameo in the 15th over, but the rain began to fall, and Ireland won the match by DLS method.