England vs Ireland LIVE: Test cricket score and updates as Josh Tongue picks up three wickets on dominant day
England are closing in on victory after a dominant display at Lord’s
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Your support makes all the difference.England are on the verge of a first victory of the summer after record-breaking innings by Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett almost saw Ireland defeated inside two days at Lord’s.
Duckett did the early damage and showed exactly why he is perfect for Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ style with a century on his maiden Test appearance on home soil.
The Nottinghamshire opener made it to 150 off the same number of balls to snatch the record for quickest Test 150 at Lord’s off Australian great Don Bradman before his fun was ended on 182 that came at a strike rate of 102.84.
Duckett had shared a 252-run partnership for the second wicket with Pope, who was not at his fluent best initially but freed up after reaching his fourth hundred and subsequently registered the quickest Test double-century in England.
When Pope was stumped after crashing 22 fours and three maximums in his 205 innings from 208 balls, Stokes declared on 524 for four with Ireland needing 352 to make England bat again but more pressingly required to bat through the evening session to force a third day of this one-off Test.
Three wickets for debutant Josh Tongue in a terrific spell threatened the possibility England could wrap up victory inside two days but Harry Tector stood firm to guide Ireland to the close on 97 for three, although opener James McCollum is unlikely to bat again after he retired hurt.
Stokes’ bold declaration was in keeping with England’s desire to go against convention but it does mean himself, Harry Brook and Jonny Bairstow are all short of time at the crease ahead of the Ashes opener on June 16.
Pat Cummins and co will not be as generous at Edgbaston as red-ball novices Ireland have been this week in only their seventh Test, but the emergence of Tongue makes this a worthwhile exercise.
Sonia Twigg at Lord's
England have done what they set out to do. No one who was in attendance in the Lord’s crowd on day two could go home saying they were not entertained by England’s show with the bat.
They were not reckless, the first six of the day came just before 2pm, from Ben Duckett who was on 176 at the time. England just looked comfortable, and the batting looked easy as they amassed 524-4 in reply to Ireland’s 172 all out.
It was a day Ollie Pope will never forget, bringing up his maiden Test double century in emphatic fashion, with a six over the top to put his name in the history books with the fastest 200 in Test cricket in England.
England were utterly dominant with the bat, exploiting the field, waiting for the bad ball. But, despite being the only game before the Ashes, there is little to be learned from how the same players will cope against the skill and pace of the Australian seam attack. Ireland’s offering just cannot compare, before England declared, at 524 for just four wickets.
What England’s batting thrills do – and don’t – tell us about the Ashes
Ollie Pope scored a record-breaking maiden Test 200 at Lord’s against Ireland but England’s learnings were limited against a toiling opponent
STUMPS: Ireland 97-3, Tector 33, Tucker 21, Leach 0-25 (6), trail by 255
The Irish batters take advantage of an aggressive field in the final over to put on a few more runs before stumps, and Ireland end the day 255 runs behind. They will almost certainly lose this Test match tomorrow but there has at least been some solid resistance this evening.
Ireland 92-3, Tector 30, Tucker 19, Broad 0-18 (5), trail by 260
Broad is back with ball in hand and appeals heartily for an edge off the glove of Harry Tector trying to fend a short delivery. There was a noise but the umpire is unmoved. UltraEdge shows it was off the shirt, not the glove, and Tector survives. Tucker unleashes a ferocious hook for four off the final ball of the over.
Just time for one more over.
Ireland 85-3, Tector 27, Tucker 15, Leach 0-19 (6), trail by 267
A good probing over from Leach, who is denied a maiden by Tector’s scrambled single off the last to retain the strike.
Ireland 84-3, Tector 26, Tucker 15, Broad 0-11 (4), trail by 268
Broad’s biggest problem is the crease, as he gives a couple of extras away via no balls. Tucker pinches a couple of singles too.
Ireland 79-3, Tector 25, Tucker 13, Leach 0-18 (5), trail by 273
Tector pinches a couple of singles down to long leg from what is surely Tongue’s final over the day, having bowled eight, and Leach then puts in a maiden. Stuart Broad will take up the ball for these final 15 minutes.
Ireland 77-3, Tector 23, Tucker 13, Leach 0-18 (4), trail by 275
Jack Leach keeps a tight control on his length apart from one ball in the middle of the over which is too full, and Tucker slaps it away through midwicket for a boundary.
Ireland 73-3, Tector 23, Tucker 9, Tongue 3-25 (7), trail by 279
Lorcan Tucker is the man in next and he is quickly grounded by a bouncer which hits him flush on the helmet. After a check-up and a change of lid, he continues, and Ireland continue to play some expansive cricket as the evening draws in.
Wicket! Stirling feathers behind off Tongue, Ireland 63-3
Paul Stirling gets tied up by a short ball veering down leg, and Tongue and Bairstow both celebrate passionately, convinced he edged behind. The umpire isn’t moved, but UltraEdge confirms the faintest of touches off the glove and Stirling walks.
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