England in Ireland: Jordan Cox leads tourists to T20 series win with half-century in Malahide

Before Salt quickly eradicated any doubt over Wednesday’s result, Ireland would have felt their 196 in the series opener represented a competitive total.

However, after England’s stand-in skipper Jacob Bethell again won the toss and put the hosts into bat, Sunday’s innings was a much more laboured affair.

With the heavy rain overnight ensuring a slower wicket, conditions were always going to make things more challenging with the bat.

But the variation and discipline of England’s bowling played its part too, with their spinners taking six of the eight wickets.

While opener Ross Adair produced 33 from 23 deliveries, before falling to the bowling of Rehan Ahmad in the first over after the powerplay, Ireland’s top order struggled to score at a rate of better than a run per ball.

It took an 123-run partnership from Loran Tucker and Harry Tector to settle things on Wednesday but Ireland were never able to find their rhythm in this series finale.

Only against Baker, whose first two overs brought 24 runs, could they accelerate their run-rate.

It took the arrival of Gareth Delany, who led the way with an unbeaten 48 off 29 deliveries from number, to improve matters – but even on the slower pitch, 155 never felt a total likely to be defended.

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