Ireland ended England's World Cup honeymoon in dramatic fashion on Wednesday, bowling out the host nation for 85 and taking a 122-run lead on the first day at Lord's to raise hopes of, possibly, the biggest shock in Test history.
Tim Murtagh blew away the England top- and middle-order with a five-wicket haul on a ground where he plays for Middlesex. He was ably assisted by young debutant Mark Adair, who took 3/32.
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Coming on to bat, Ireland openers William Porterfield and James McCollum made a steady start before skipper Porterfield, hit on the head by a Stone bouncer, pulled Curran to midwicket on 14.
Curran also bowled McCullum but Balbirnie had a reprieve when, on 10, he edged Stuart Broad between Bairstow and first slip Root for a chance that belonged to the wicketkeeper.
Stirling had made 17 when Root, compounding a miserable day for the captain, dropped a low slip catch off the unlucky Broad.
Balbirnie, driving impressively, rubbed salt into England's wounds with a 56-ball fifty that included nine fours. He put on 87 runs for the third wicket with Paul Stirling (36).
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But the English bowlers struck back to bowl out Ireland for 207, conceding a 122-run lead in the first innings.
Only one over—a maiden—was bowled in England's second innings when stumps were drawn.
The match is only scheduled to last four days rather than the usual five for a Test. Ten days after winning the World Cup at the same ground against New Zealand and a week ahead of the Ashes, Ireland exposed England's batting fragility in brutal fashion.
Just three England batsmen made it into double figures—oe Denly, who top-scored with 23, Olly Stone and Sam Curran—in an innings that was over inside 24 overs.
But of those, only Denly is a top-order player, with fast bowler Stone making his debut in the first-ever Test between England and Ireland.
It was the fourth time in 34 Tests that England had lost all 10 wickets in a session—a worrying sign ahead of the five-Test series against Australia.
(With PTI inputs)
