England wrapped up the three-match T20I series against Ireland with a 2-0 result after winning the third match by six wickets at Malahide. Chasing 155, England reached the target with 17 balls to spare, thanks largely to Jordan Cox’s fearless 55 off 35 balls despite carrying a knee injury.
Ireland had batted first and posted 154/8, a total that looked competitive on a pitch offering some assistance to spinners. Ross Adair provided a brisk start before Gareth Delany anchored the innings with an unbeaten 48. But England’s bowlers applied pressure at crucial stages. Adil Rashid was the pick, claiming 3/29, while Liam Dawson bowled a miserly spell taking 2/9. Jamie Overton chipped in with two wickets to derail Ireland’s middle order and keep the total within range.
In reply, England were in early trouble at 33/2 after losing skipper Jos Buttler for a duck. That’s when Cox, making a comeback to the side, stepped up. His innings was a mix of power and composure — launching four sixes and finding gaps regularly. He shared a key partnership with Phil Salt, who struck 29 off 21, and later Tom Banton, whose unbeaten 37 ensured the chase didn’t falter once Cox departed.
This performance marked a personal triumph for Cox, who was returning after a strong domestic season and had to overcome pain after injuring his knee while fielding earlier in the match. His ability to counter both pace and spin underlined his value to England’s white-ball setup.
The victory gave England the series after they had won the first game comfortably and seen the second washed out. For Ireland, the result was disappointing, but Delany’s form and Adair’s powerplay hitting were positives to build on ahead of their next assignments.
For England, the biggest takeaway was their bench strength and middle-order resilience. Winning despite losing early wickets and with several first-choice players rotated out showed their depth heading into a busy international calendar. The form of Banton and the bowling rhythm of Rashid will also boost confidence before tougher tests later in the year.
England leave Dublin with the series trophy and momentum, while Ireland will look to regroup and address their middle-order collapses if they hope to challenge stronger opponents in future encounters.
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