Plucky England got out of Belfast with a narrow win this evening, a win which looked unlikely for most of the day. 

After having won the toss England decided to bat and, in spite the absence of key Ireland strike bowler, Boyd Rankin, were 6-2 in the 5^th over, Johnston having removed Bopara and Trott for ducks. Debutant Denly and Matt Prior steadied the ship but the pace was funereal.

Denly eventually was 6^th man out in the 39^th over with the score on 135. Only some late hitting by Luke Wright (36 in 26 balls) and Bresnan (14 in 10 balls) allowed England to get beyond 200. They finished their 50 overs on 203-9. Johnston took 3-26 off his 10 overs, and Botha 2-38 off his.

However during the interval the rains came. When eventually play resumed at 5.36pm Ireland were set 116 to win in 20 overs.

Though Ireland lost both openers, captain Porterfield and star batsman Niall O’Brien, early; at 64-2 in the 9^th over Ireland looked on course to ease home comfortably.

However England hung in, built pressure and Ireland lost their way. Only 20* from Trent Johnston kept them in the hunt as the wickets tumbled.  

Eventually England got home off the last ball as Ireland finished on 112-9 off their 20 overs.

On his 100^th cap Johnston had confirmed his status as Ireland's greatest ever player and was deservedly named MoM.

Only Niall O’Brien is close to him in my view. Time and time again both players have delivered when it really mattered on the big occasion for Ireland. Unfortunately, today was not to be one of Niall’s better days – if it had England would surely have been well beaten.



                                           Liam Rooney



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