Salt drives England past Ireland in first T20 as Bethell’s big day goes to plan
Jacob Bethell’s big day began awkwardly and ended with England dominant,After Ireland put up 196, some serious work was required as the 21-year-old became his country’s youngest men’s captain,Enter Phil Salt, ready to make headlines once again,The opener followed his 141 not out against South Africa last Friday with 89 off 46 balls as England secured victory in the first of three Twenty20 internationals with 14 balls to spare,Ireland’s bowling effort could not live up to their strong display in the first half, when Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker combined for a third-wicket partnership of 123 off 11.
2 overs, the former top-scoring with an unbeaten 61 off 36 balls,Salt, hammering with the pull shot, showed he can do it in the chase, too,Another rollicking opening stand with Jos Buttler – they amassed 74 inside five overs – made the remainder comfortable, a spurt of late wickets causing little bother,“Coming off at half-time it certainly wasn’t an easy target to chase,” said Salt,“[There was] a little bit there for guys taking pace off the ball, a little bit two-paced when they went hard into the wicket.
” But he made it look a stroll, helping Bethell to a bit more history: this was England’s first win against Ireland in a men’s T20.Malahide was a lovely, leafy sight in the early afternoon, overnight rain making way for a poking sun.This was much needed for Ireland, short on fixtures at home because of a tight budget and with a three-match series against West Indies in June – their last assignment – including two washouts.Paul Stirling was grateful for the autumnal opportunity, putting on 57 for the first wicket alongside Ross Adair, no early release provided to Bethell.The hosts, up against the veteran pair of Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid, were keen to crush spin.
Adair and Stirling found midwicket and long-on respectively as they tried to launch the tweakers, but Tucker and Tector remained on the hunt.Tucker contributed a crucial 34 at No 3 in the previous T20 meeting between these two sides, a memorable Irish victory at the 2022 World Cup.Tector had the experience of being out in the middle five years ago, in his first one-day international series, when Ireland beat England in a pandemic bout at Southampton.The two twentysomethings had no reason to be fazed.Tector pumped Rashid over the leg side, the fourth six conceded by the leg-spinner, and reached his half-century off 31 balls.
There was further joy at the death; Ireland hit 45 off the last three overs, George Dockrell’s only-ball six providing the perfect finish.Sign up to The SpinSubscribe to our cricket newsletter for our writers' thoughts on the biggest stories and a review of the week’s actionafter newsletter promotionStill, Salt and Buttler were fresh from their pyro party last week, when they put up 126 inside eight overs.They immediately threatened to match that effort, taking just three overs to bring up 50; Buttler took 22 off one Graham Hume set, turning the 34-year-old’s medium pace into throwdowns.Matthew Humphreys’ left-arm spin forced a miscue from Buttler on 28 to bring in Bethell.Any nerves were understandable as the left-hander searched for the middle, his first 12 balls returning just 10.
Salt appeared out to Tector’s part-time spin on 51 after finding a fielder, but a no-ball call kept the right-hander’s cruelty coming.Bethell finally clicked with a series of boundaries off Tector, but fell in the same over with a chip to cover for 24.Rehan Ahmed emerged for his first England appearance of the year, granted an opportunity at No 4, but was a touch too eager when he charged Gareth Delany and was bowled for eight.Salt fell short of a fifth T20 international hundred – he would have joined Glenn Maxwell and Rohit Sharma at the top of the list – finding deep point off the expensive Hume at the end of the 16th over.But England, with 16 runs required, were in no position to fall from there.
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