Adil Rashid shone with the ball to keep the target within reach. Jordan Cox, making his comeback, lit up the game with a dazzling innings. Playing T20 cricket for England after a year, he delivered an explosive knock. With a commanding win, England sealed the series against Ireland.
In Dublin on Sunday, England claimed a 6-wicket victory in the third and final T20. They chased down Ireland’s 154 with 17 balls to spare.
England had started the series by winning the first T20, while the second was washed out by rain. This victory handed the visitors a 2-0 series win.
Leg-spinner Rashid was named Player of the Match for his brilliant figures of 3 for 29. Liam Dawson and Jamie Overton chipped in with two wickets each.
Cox’s contribution was just as vital. In the chase, he smashed 55 off 35 balls with four sixes and four fours. Tom Banton added 37 with six boundaries to guide England home.
Ireland’s innings started and ended poorly. After losing captain Paul Stirling in the fourth over, they also saw a good start from Ross Adair fade when he fell right after the Powerplay. Adair scored 33 off 23 with one six and five fours.
Jamie Overton then ripped through their middle order, removing Lorcan Tucker and Curtis Campher within four balls. Ireland slumped to 107/7 a few overs later.
It was Gareth Delany who took them past 150. Coming in at No. 7, he hit 3 sixes and 4 fours in an unbeaten 48 off 29 balls.
Rain briefly delayed England’s innings. Once play resumed, they suffered early blows — Jos Buttler fell for a duck, and stand-in captain Jacob Bethell also failed to settle.
Phil Salt and Cox steadied the innings, putting on 57 before Campher dismissed Salt for 29 (1 six, 2 fours). Cox announced himself in style, hitting a six off his second ball and a four the next. In Campher’s following over, he struck consecutive boundaries and a six to race to his maiden T20I fifty for England in just 31 balls.
Cox’s whirlwind knock was ended by Ben White, breaking his 49-run stand with Banton. But Banton, with Rehan Ahmed at the other end, easily took England over the line.
Match Summary
- Ireland: 154/8 in 20 overs (Stirling 7, Adair 33, Tector 28, Delany 48*; Rashid 3-29, Overton 2-27, Dawson 2-9)
- England: 155/4 in 17.1 overs (Salt 29, Cox 55, Banton 37*; Young 1-21, Campher 1-24, White 1-40)
Result: England won by 6 wickets
Player of the Match: Adil Rashid
Series: England won the 3-match series 2-0
Player of the Series: Phil Salt
