England hitters Ben Duckett and Phil Salt put on an incredible display of power hitting in Bristol, driving the ball to every corner of the County Ground before the rain came and ended the game.
In the three-match series, England’s 48-run victory over Ireland in the second ODI was sufficient for a 1-0 series victory despite their being two no-result games.
The first over of the game, bowled by Mark Adair, saw Salt hit three boundaries and a six, the highest opening over by England ever. England scored 84 in six overs as the slaughter continued, with Salt reaching his half-century in just 22 balls. His fast-paced 61-run opening stand off only 28 balls came to an end in the seventh over, along with the fast-paced 87-run opening stand. A few overs later, Salt’s opening partner Will Jacks followed him to the pavilion, giving Ireland some temporary reprieve.
Duckett looked in fantastic form as he approached the crease and hit a 72-ball century, improving his prospects of playing for a fully-fit England ODI team in the future. Duckett, who hit 12 fours and two sixes, needed just 26 balls to go from 50 to 100 before hitting his maiden white-ball international century with a huge six over long-off.
Before Crawley became Theo van Woerkom’s first victim, Duckett and Crawley, who both scored steadily in the fiftys, put up 101 runs for the third wicket. On the evening, Craig Young took three wickets, including those of Salt, Jacks, and Saim Hain.
England had 280/4 off 31 overs with Duckett on 107 off 78 balls when severe rains drove the players off the field. The game was called off by the umpires after only 33 minutes, which surprised everyone, even the participants.
England captain Crawley remarked, “It’s a shame it ended like that, it was all so sudden. “Clearly, a lot of rain fell in a short period of time. We were all probably taken aback when they entered to shake our hands. I just walked to the outfield, and everything was sopping wet that I suppose everything was inappropriate.
Brief scores: England 280/4 in 31 overs vs Ireland (Duckett 107*, Salt 61, Crawley 51; Young 3-31); no decision was made.
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