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.
England 369-2, Root 2, Pope 118, Hume 1-66 (14), lead by 197
Joe Root is away. His classic punch into the legside brings him two runs as England’s lead closes in on 200. Root could use some time in the middle after a spell in the IPL.
How much longer Ben Stokes will keep his team batting is another matter.
England 366-2, Root 0, Pope 117, Adair 0-100 (16), lead by 194
This different ball that Ireland have is doing slightly more off the pitch and Ollie Pope keeps his eye on the ball as he manoeuvres it into the legside.
Joe Root faces the final ball of Adair’s over and is struck on the pad. There seems to be a little inside edge which may have just saved him.
Wicket! Duckett b. Hume 182 (178), England 361-2 (59.5)
The change of ball works for Ireland! Graham Hume comes around the wicket to the left-handed Ben Duckett. He gets one to move back towards the batter and an inside edge from a booming drive diverts the ball onto Duckett’s stumps!
The England opener departs for 182.
England 361-1, Duckett 182, Pope 114, Hume 0-63 (12.4), lead by 189
Ireland enquire about changing the ball in the hopes that a different one may change their fortunes. Graham Hume is brought back into the attack and Ben Duckett flails him away for four runs before getting off strike.
Ollie Pope then dabs one to third man to collect three and brings up the 250 partnership.
England 353-1, Duckett 177, Pope 109, Adair 0-95 (15), lead by 181
This is a rather sedate over for England with just six runs coming from it. Eoin Morgan and Mark Butcher are discussing how England will approach the rest of the day on Sky Sports.
The consensus is that Ben Stokes will declare when he thinks England have a big enough lead.
This partnership is now 244 from 256 balls.
England 347-1, Duckett 176, Pope 104, McBrine 0-60 (10), lead by 175
Ben Duckett is moving through the gears, he takes McBrine for consecutive fours before slog-sweeping him over the ropes for the first six of the innings.
England won’t be held back now, Pope and Duckett will try to pile on the runs as quickly as possible.
England 333-1, Duckett 162, Pope 104, Adair 0-89 (14), lead by 161
Having reached three figures Ollie Pope plans to get England ticking once again. Twice he dances down the track to take on Mark Adair.
The first sees Pope nail the ball down the ground for four before he misses his second effort and gets wrapped on the pads.
England 329-1, Duckett 162, Pope 100, McBrine 0-46 (9), lead by 157
Ollie Pope seems a little skittish as he approaches three figures. He tries to pick the gap at midwicket a couple of times but hits the fielder.
Andy McBrine then gets one to grip and hits Pope on the pads as he dances down the track.
There it is! Pope turns the ball slightly wide of mid-on and scampers through to complete his fourth test match hundred!
England 326-1, Duckett 161, Pope 98, Adair 0-85 (13), lead by 154
Mark Adair causes a few issues for Ben Duckett outside the off-stump as he employs a couple of slower balls to change up the pace. The final delivery catches Duckett’s gloves but doesn’t reach Lorcan Tucker behind the stumps.
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