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.
Ireland 48-2, Tector 9, Stirling 14, Leach 0-1 (1), trail by 304
Into the attack comes Jack Leach after Matthew Potts took a bit of a pounding in his last over. Tector is tentative against Leach’s spin at first but finishes the over with a quickly run single.
Ireland 47-2, Tector 8, Stirling 14, Tongue 2-13 (4), trail by 305
Another wonderfully driven boundary by Stirling, who looks in the mood, crashing the ball through cover for four more. He adds a single and the over finishes with a flick off Tector’s hips for a single down at long leg to retain the strike.
Ireland 40-2, Tector 6, Stirling 9, Potts 0-28 (6), trail by 312
A beautifully poised pair of boundaries by Paul Stirling, the first driven through cover and the second more square on the off-side, from his back foot. That’s lovely, and Ireland are getting into a bit of a groove here. Nice to see.
Ireland 32-2, Tector 6, Stirling 1, Tongue 2-6 (3), trail by 320
A boundary from Tector, who clips accurately past leg gully, amid five dot balls.
Ireland 28-2, Tector 2, Stirling 1, Potts 0-20 (5), trail by 324
Tector pushes a single through mid-on, before Stirling offers a little nudge to the on-side to get off the mark. Tector ends the over with a single off his pads, then complains to Potts about his wristband shining too brightly and blinding him. Potts offers him a shrug.
Ireland 25-2, Tector 0, Stirling 0, Tongue 2-2 (2), trail by 327
Stirling survives the final ball of the over, and that’s a maiden.
Paul Stirling takes James McCollum’s place at the crease
It is his right ankle, in fact, that appears to be hurt. After receiving a little bit of treatment on the wicket, McCollum is helped off the pitch by two of Ireland’s medical team. A freak injury, and that is surely the last we will see of the batter this innings. Paul Stirling comes to the crease with Ireland 25-2 (effectively for three), and one more ball of Tongue’s over to come.
James McCollum injured
This looks awkward – James McCollum tried to avoid a short ball from Josh Tongue but did himself some damage, possibly on his left ankle or knee, while twisting away. He lets out a shriek and goes to ground in a lot of pain, and the England players look concerned.
Ireland 25-2, McCollom 12, Tector 0, Potts 0-17 (4), trail by 327
These are nervy moments for Ireland, but they manage to see out Potts’ fourth over without losing another wicket.
Tector took a long time to set himself for his first ball, kicking the dust away for the final ball of the over, before playing and missing at one just outside the off stump.
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