United Kingdom, May 5: Adil Rashid returned the second-best figures by an England spinner in a one-day international as the hosts romped to a seven-wicket win in their series opener against Ireland at Bristol today.
Victory saw England go 1-0 up in the two-match contest ahead of Sunday’s showpiece clash at Lord’s.
Leg-spinner Rashid took five for 27 as Ireland, in their long-awaited first ODI against England in England, collapsed to 126 all out after visiting captain William Porterfield won the toss.
Andrew Balbirnie top-scored with 30 in an innings where only openers Ed Joyce (23) and Paul Stirling (20) got to 20.
Rashid’s return was second only to that of off-spinner Vic Marks’s five for 20, against New Zealand at Wellington in 1984, by a specialist England slow bowler at this level.
England, set just 127 to win, lost Jason Roy for a duck in the first over of their reply when he flicked Peter Chase off his pads to George Dockrell at mid-wicket.
Fellow opener Alex Hales was then dropped on nought, Middlesex quick Tim Murtagh failing to hold a tough caught and bowled chance.
Hales went to make a quickfire 55 that stopped any thoughts of a stunning upset in their tracks.
Both Hales and Dublin-born England captain Eoin Morgan holed out off Chase, the only Ireland bowler to take wickets in a return of three for 44.
But there was never any chance of England losing, with Test captain Joe Root finishing on 49 not out.
The comprehensive win saw England start their build-up to next month’s Champions Trophy tournament on home soil in style and Rashid told BBC Radio: “It was nice to bowl my variations.
“This is our first game of a long summer. Hopefully we have shown we can do some damage and we can carry it on,” the man-of-the-match added after surpassing his previous ODI best of four for 43 against Bangladesh in Chittagong in October. (Agencies)
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