Ireland vs England - First T20 International

Phil Salt continued his impressive form in England’s quickfire six wicket victory over Ireland in their first T20 International at Malahide.

Salt powered 89 from just 46 deliveries, hitting 10 fours and four sixes, as England raced to their target of 197 in just 17.4 overs.

Coming only five days after he broke the record for England’s highest T20 International score and fastest century with 141* from 60 deliveries in their 146 run thrashing of South Africa, Salt’s onslaught meant that Ireland’s 196 - 3 from their 20 overs was never going to be enough.

England raced out of the blocks, with Salt and Jos Buttler (28) putting on 74 for the first wicket in just 4.4 overs, before Buttler skied a Matthew Humphreys delivery to Curtis Campher at mid-on.

Salt brought up his half-century from the final ball of the Power Play off just 20 deliveries, as England reached 84 - 1 at the end of their first six overs.

Even once the fielding restrictions ended, Salt continued to punish the Ireland bowlers, alongside cameos from England’s now youngest male captain Jacob Bethell (24) and Sam Curran (27).

Part-timer Harry Tector thought he had removed the in-form England man, when Salt was caught off a full toss, only for Tector to have committed a criminal offence for a spinner by over-stepping.

Despite Graham Hume (2 - 36) removing Curran and Salt in the space of three deliveries, England still cantered home to victory, with Jamie Overton bunting the winning runs over mid-on with 2.2 overs to spare.

Ireland had earlier impressed with the bat, amidst a below-par performance with the ball from England.

Captain Paul Stirling (34) and Ross Adair (26) put on 57 for the first wicket, before an eye-catching third wicket stand of 123 between Harry Tector (61*) and Lorcan Tucker (55).

A disappointing performance with the ball from England was optimised by George Dockrell coming in for the final ball of the innings, following Tucker’s dismissal, and being dished up a full toss from Overton that he duly dispatched for six.

However, given the start that England made with the bat, the Irish bowlers were always on the back foot and were never able to fully drag their visitors back after their fast paced start.

The three match series continues on Friday at the same ground, with England looking to claim a series victory in the first T20 bilateral series between the two sides.