Jacob Bethell\u2019s big day began awkwardly and ended with England dominant. After Ireland put up 196, some serious work was required as the 21-year-old became his country\u2019s youngest men\u2019s captain.<\/p>\n
Enter Phil Salt, ready to make headlines once again. The opener followed his 141 not out<\/a> against South Africa last Friday with 89 off 46 balls as England secured victory in the first of three Twenty20 internationals with 14 balls to spare.<\/p>\n Ireland\u2019s bowling effort could not live up to their strong display in the first half, when Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker combined for a third-wicket partnership of 123 off 11.2 overs, the former top-scoring with an unbeaten 61 off 36 balls.<\/p>\n Salt, hammering with the pull shot, showed he can do it in the chase, too. Another rollicking opening stand with Jos Buttler \u2013 they amassed 74 inside five overs \u2013 made the remainder comfortable, a spurt of late wickets causing little bother.<\/p>\n \u201cComing off at half-time it certainly wasn\u2019t an easy target to chase,\u201d said Salt. \u201c[There was] a little bit there for guys taking pace off the ball, a little bit two-paced when they went hard into the wicket.\u201d But he made it look a stroll, helping Bethell to a bit more history: this was England\u2019s first win against Ireland in a men\u2019s T20.<\/p>\n Malahide was a lovely, leafy sight in the early afternoon, overnight rain making way for a poking sun. This was much needed for Ireland, short on fixtures at home<\/a> because of a tight budget and with a three-match series against West Indies in June \u2013 their last assignment \u2013 including two washouts.<\/p>\n Paul Stirling was grateful for the autumnal opportunity, putting on 57 for the first wicket alongside Ross Adair, no early release provided to Bethell. The hosts, up against the veteran pair of Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid, were keen to crush spin. Adair and Stirling found midwicket and long-on respectively as they tried to launch the tweakers, but Tucker and Tector remained on the hunt.<\/p>\n Ross Adair high fives Harry Tector after taking a catch to dismiss England\u2019s Jacob Bethell. Photograph: Cathal McNaughton\/Reuters<\/p>\n Tucker contributed a crucial 34 at No 3 in the previous T20 meeting between these two sides, a memorable Irish victory<\/a> at the 2022 World Cup. Tector had the experience of being out in the middle five years ago, in his first one-day international series, when Ireland beat England<\/a> in a pandemic bout at Southampton. The two twentysomethings had no reason to be fazed.<\/p>\n Tector pumped Rashid over the leg side, the fourth six conceded by the leg-spinner, and reached his half-century off 31 balls. There was further joy at the death; Ireland hit 45 off the last three overs, George Dockrell\u2019s only-ball six providing the perfect finish.<\/p>\n skip past newsletter promotion<\/a><\/p>\n Subscribe to our cricket newsletter for our writers’ thoughts on the biggest stories and a review of the week\u2019s action<\/p>\n Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. If you do not have an account, we will create a guest account for you on theguardian.com<\/a> to send you this newsletter. You can complete full registration at any time. For more information about how we use your data see our Privacy Policy<\/a>. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy<\/a> and Terms of Service<\/a> apply.<\/p>\n after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n Still, Salt and Buttler were fresh from their pyro party last week, when they put up 126 inside eight overs. They immediately threatened to match that effort, taking just three overs to bring up 50; Buttler took 22 off one Graham Hume set, turning the 34-year-old\u2019s medium pace into throwdowns.<\/p>\n Matthew Humphreys\u2019 left-arm spin forced a miscue from Buttler on 28 to bring in Bethell. Any nerves were understandable as the left-hander searched for the middle, his first 12 balls returning just 10. Salt appeared out to Tector\u2019s part-time spin on 51 after finding a fielder, but a no-ball call kept the right-hander\u2019s cruelty coming.<\/p>\n Bethell finally clicked with a series of boundaries off Tector, but fell in the same over with a chip to cover for 24. Rehan Ahmed emerged for his first England appearance of the year, granted an opportunity at No 4, but was a touch too eager when he charged Gareth Delany and was bowled for eight.<\/p>\n Salt fell short of a fifth T20 international hundred \u2013 he would have joined Glenn Maxwell and Rohit Sharma at the top of the list \u2013 finding deep point off the expensive Hume at the end of the 16th over. But England, with 16 runs required, were in no position to fall from there.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Jacob Bethell\u2019s big day began awkwardly and ended with England dominant. 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