England v Ireland
Wisden's review of the second ODI, England v Ireland
11-Mar-2018
At Lord's, May 7. England won by 85 runs. Toss: Ireland.
It was hard not to feel sorry for Bairstow - England's fulcrum here, yet for the time being destined to get a game only when others were absent. Soon after he arrived at the crease, England - following seventies from Root and Morgan - were 229 for five with 49 balls to go, and Ireland looking far more accomplished than they had in Bristol. A total of 300 seemed remote. But against a useful attack led by Middlesex's Murtagh on his home ground, Bairstow counter-punched, striking seven fours and three sixes, to finish with 72 not out from 44 deliveries, including 26 from his final seven.
It was hard not to feel sorry for Bairstow - England's fulcrum here, yet for the time being destined to get a game only when others were absent. Soon after he arrived at the crease, England - following seventies from Root and Morgan - were 229 for five with 49 balls to go, and Ireland looking far more accomplished than they had in Bristol. A total of 300 seemed remote. But against a useful attack led by Middlesex's Murtagh on his home ground, Bairstow counter-punched, striking seven fours and three sixes, to finish with 72 not out from 44 deliveries, including 26 from his final seven.
With Rashid hitting 39 from 25, England rattled up 328, the total Ireland had chased to win at Bangalore in 2011. Stirling made a rapid 48 from 42 balls, and Porterfield - who had been all at sea two days earlier - a forthright 82. But Plunkett and Root, getting through ten overs in a one-day international for the first time on his way to career-best figures, picked up three apiece; England were always in control. With their IPL contingent returning for the three-match series against South Africa, however, Bairstow knew he had done no more than keep a seat warm.
Man of the Match: J. E. Root.
Man of the Match: J. E. Root.