OVER 41: ENG 245/4 (Morgan 115* Bopara 81*) Ravi Bopara launches that one down the ground, six runs. Bosh. Oof, painful business for KJ O'Brien in this over. Ravi now with another aggressive shot down the ground, four runs. Annoyingly, the keeper doesn't read the slower ball bouncer and it bobbles for four byes, and then the crowning bit of pain, a six from Morgan over midwicket. 22 runs off the over. Just 25 runs now needed, I suppose Ravi will be hoping that he can get 19 of them...
Ken Andrew: "Good luck with Ireland's attempts at full Test status by 2010 but I fear it may be some time before the ICC's " culture of cricket " necessary for qualification really exists. My sons play cricket in Cork City where there are just two clubs.The nearest indoor net is three hours away in Dublin. Not a lot of use in a country where it rains for 9 months of the year."
OVER 40 PP: ENG 223/4 (Morgan 108* Bopara 70*) Long hop from Dockrell and that gets the treatment from Morgs. A couple of singles and a wide, that makes seven runs and this is England's highest fifth-wicket partnership in ODIs. 47 runs off the powerplay, brutal stuff.
OVER 39 PP: ENG 216/4 (Morgan 103* Bopara 69*) What a shot from Ravi! Steps away to leg and O'Brien serves it up on middle stump, Ravi clatters that for four through cover. That's one of two boundaries in a ten-run over and England are looking set fair from here. The Scots are eight down up in Edinburgh, they need 214 off eight overs, so they've got a bit to do.
OVER 38 PP: ENG 206/4 (Morgan 103* Bopara 59*) That wasn't the worst first ball from Johnston, but Morgan is seeing it like the proverbial and launches it for a one-bounce four. Another single, a deuce and a majestic six and that is his ton. What a way to do it, and what a place, the pitch of his youth. The crowd stands as one in tribute. A fine moment.
OVER 37 PP: ENG 192/4 (Morgan 90* Bopara 58*) Either Mooney has got to stop pitching full and wide, or Porterfield has got to put someone in at third man - without him, boundaries simply there for the taking. Morgan helps himself to a four and Bopara a six, crushed over wide long-on. A run a ball will do it for England from here, and the next three overs should take the rate a fair sight shorter than that.
OVER 36 PP: ENG 181/4 (Morgan 85* Bopara 52*) Here's the obligatory batting Powerplay, and it suddenly seems like a long time since England were four wickets down with less than 50 on the board. Ireland need a flash of something: inspiration, madness, anything will do. Trent Johnston returns to the attack and Wilson is up to the stumps again to keep Morgs and Ravi honest. Morgan tries to launch him down the ground and catches the toe of the bat, but still picks up two.
OVER 35: ENG 176/4 (Morgan 81* Bopara 51*) The hands in the field shown by Ireland are something to behold on what is, well, not what you'd call a carpet of a pitch. Still, Morgan's suddenly past 80 at a canter, picking up a couple off a low full toss out to deep cover - doesn't seem so long ago he was saluting his fifty.
OVER 34: ENG 172/4 (Morgan 78* Bopara 50*) I've got sympathy for Ireland here. They're just one more bowler away from being a really handy outfit. The captain gambled bravely on Murtagh bowling ten overs in a row, and it paid off with England four down after 15 overs. But once he was done, Ireland tried to fiddle through the overs with their spinners and it's allowed Ravi and Morgan to get well set. Class is starting to tell. There's a change of ends for Dockrell, five off the over, and Ravi notches himself a fifty.
OVER 33: ENG 167/4 (Morgan 75* Bopara 48*) John Mooney comes on with his right arm medium pace. It looks a bit club-side, I have to say. Morgan drives for a couple, pulls a filthy short one for four, the over is a mixture of long hops and full tosses and really 12 off the over could have been worse.
OVER 32: ENG 155/4 (Morgan 63* Bopara 48*) Morgs cuts neatly and they hare back for two. Single. Now it's Ravi on strike, and he's slotted Stirling for two sixes, one over midwicket and one over cow. Ireland have let England settle too readily against these spinners, IMO. The spinners Dockrell and Stirling have now bowled nine over in a row and England are looking comfortable.The 100 partnership is up.
OVER 31: ENG 140/4 (Morgan 60* Bopara 36*) Morgan's lined Dockrell up here! Down the track, and a big six down over wide long on. Now Morgan shows the other side of his game with a deft touch sweep for two. Three singles to go with it and England are starting to look commanding here.
OVER 30: ENG 129/4 (Morgan 50* Bopara 35*) Three singles off the Stirling over, the second of Morgan's giving him his first ODI 50 since August last year.
OVER 29: ENG 126/4 (Morgan 48* Bopara 34*) Yes. That's it, Ireland. Just two off that over. The groundfielding is excellent.
Ken Andrew: "You certainly couldn't accuse Paul Stirling of being a pie-chucker.It looks like he wouldn't let a crumb go to waist....sorry waste. Wahaay!"
OVER 28: ENG 124/4 (Morgan 47* Bopara 33*) Okay, that's a better over from Ireland. They manage to keep England down to three runs, Morgan timing Stirling well but picking out the field.
OVER 27: ENG 121/4 (Morgan 45* Bopara 33*) Ravi going for his shots now. He hits Dockrell against the spin over the infield for four. Now he drives inside-to-out and that was streaky, to my eyes, the ball comes off the outside edge for a single through cover. Now Morgan sweeps Dockrell for four and England, with 19 runs off the last two overs, are giving Ireland some headaches.
OVER 26: ENG 112/4 (Morgan 41* Bopara 28*) Niall O'Brien saves four with a fine bit of fielding on the boundary, but Stirling is having a hard time finding his length. There are a couple of overpitched balls in this over, and Ravi drives one of them handsomely down the ground for four. England are able to find singles without too much difficulty at the moment and there are 10 runs off this over. Stirling has been the weak link so far with the ball.
OVER 25: ENG 102/4 (Morgan 38* Bopara 21*) A clever sweep from Morgan gives him three and brings up the fifty partnership. A couple of singles to go with it and at half-way... well, England have a long way to go. The run rate is ticking steadily upwards, 6.72 now, and another wicket would turn this into a full-blown crisis.
OVER 24: ENG 97/4 (Morgan 34* Bopara 20*) Paul Stirling with his off-breaks. Not brilliant. Two full tosses in the over, lucky for him Morgan doesn't take full advantage. Couple of twos to Morgan, who is able to work the ball around deftly.
OVER 23: ENG 91/4 (Morgan 29* Bopara 19*) No, Kevin. Just... no. You cannot bowl short on a slow pitch at that pace. Morgan slams the sit-up-and-beg to the boundary for four and there are three singles.
OVER 22: ENG 84/4 (Morgan 24* Bopara 17*) Morgan sweeps a four, and there are three singles of Dockrell. Set the controls for: cautious optimism?
OVER 21: ENG 77/4 (Morgan 19* Bopara 15*) Kevin O'Brien is on from the Dublin Road End. Gorgeous cover drive from Morgs to an overpitched ball for four.
Luke Wright's was one of several poor shots for England. And is that a video game sticker on the back of his bat?!
OVER 20: ENG 71/4 (Morgan 14* Bopara 14*) Four singles off the Dockrell over: decent stuff from Somerset's slow left-armer. He's well supported by some handy ground-fielding. 199 runs needed from 30 overs but this partnership is looking a bit more composed. SCotland, meanwhile, are sinking without trace against the Aussies up at The Grange. They're 80/5 chasing 363.
OVER 19: ENG 67/4 (Morgan 12* Bopara 12*) Morgan, you lucky, lucky boy. The skipper prods a slow one from Murtagh back over the bowler's shoulder. Hands on heads and oohs all round. Tim Murtagh finishes up with a splendid ten-over spell of three for 33 with two maidens. Congrats to him - can his team-mates take up the fight?
OVER 18: ENG 65/4 (Morgan 11* Bopara 11*) George Dockrell joins the attack now - plenty of cover on the off side as he does, and just a single off the first ball to show for it.
OVER 17: ENG 64/4 (Morgan 10* Bopara 11*) For the first time, England carry the fight to Tim Murtagh. Two nce shots from Ravi, a late cut and a cording shot off the back foot. Nine overs off the reel for the Middlesex medium pace terror.
OVER 16: ENG 55/4 (Morgan 9* Bopara 3*) Some respite at the other end, though, Sorensen stroked around for a tidy seven runs. That run rate is up to 6.32. Not a crisis yet on that front: England have plenty of guys who can crack on.
OVER 15: ENG 48/4 (Morgan 6* Bopara 0*) England's second most experienced player after Morgan, Ravi Bopara, comes to the crease. The only shame for Ireland is that Tim Murtagh has just two overs left. Ravi defends his first ball.
WICKET! Taylor b Murtagh 25 Fantastic! Well bolwed Tim Murtagh. Full, Taylor drives around the ball and he's bowled. Awful shot, actually, big loose drive and the ball is through the gate. You could drive a bus through there. FOW 48/4 and England are in absolutely all sorts here.
Looks like a good day out there.
OVER 14: ENG 44/3 (Taylor 21* Morgan 6*) England looking more comfortable against Sorensen. LBW shout v Taylor but looked like inside edge to me. He's looking okay, Taylor. Drives through the offside for three, cuts a single.
OVER 13: ENG 38/3 (Taylor 17* Morgan 4*) First bad ball that Ireland's English opening bowler has bowled. Too full to Taylor, and width, and he drives it away handsomely. That's the only score in the Murtagh over, mind you.
Peter: "Firstly based on recent form I doubt whether Morgs will save the day, and even if he did it would mean that our best bowler and best batsman in the match were Irishmen - what possible satisfaction can an England side take from that? To me it looks as though we are in for a beating and as an Englishman, I side to some extent with Ger - the emergence of Ireland as a Test playing nation would be great for cricket - let's get behind them and help them in their aims, because it is certainly going to be a long hard road. But if they make it, how wonderful for cricket to have another Test playing nation."
OVER 12: ENG 34/3 (Taylor 13* Morgan 4*) Max Sorensen on. He has a bit more pace than the opening pair and England find him a bit easier to score off. They manage five singles, the first over that England have looked remotely in control.
OVER 11: ENG 29/3 (Taylor 10* Morgan 2*) Timmy M is into his sixth over. Hearts are in mouths when Morgan edges past gully, squared up by a decent cherry.
OVER 10: ENG 27/3 (Taylor 9* Morgan 1*) The powerplay comes to an end, that's a dream start to the innings for Ireland. They've taken three wickets, got England rattled, and they've pushed the required rate over a run a ball to RRR 6.07
OVER 9: ENG 25/3 (Taylor 8* Morgan 0*) I would imagine that skipper Eoin Morgan is thinking "I will literally never hear the end of this". Captain Morgan, one match-winning captain's knock, please. He survives the last two balls of this double wicket maiden.
WICKET! Wright b Murtagh 5 That's it! Poor choice of shot from Lukey on a slowish pitch, he tries to run the ball down to third man but has managed only to under-edge the ball onto his stumps. Too tight a line for the shot, aside from anything else. FOW 25/2
... here comes Gary Ballance ...
WICKET! Ballance c Wilson b Murtgah 0 And there goes Gary Ballance! He's been in great form for Yorkshire, but he's lasted only two balls today. Decent nut from Murtagh, Ballace half-plays, half-leaves, ends up doing not much of either, feathers an edge behind and it's a doozy of a catch with the gloves. FOW 25/3 This is fantastic stuff, come on the Irish.
OVER 8: ENG 25/1 (Wright 5* Taylor 8*) Johnston continues, Taylor laces the ball through extra cover for four to go with a couple off the pads.
OVER 7: ENG 19/1 (Wright 5* Taylor 2*) Maiden. And it should have been better than that. Murtagh seams it back into Wright, who is hit on the knee roll. Umpire Mark Hawthorne reckons it hit him outside the line, and he is wrong. Let-off! England are in a fight here. Not so the Aussies: they're giving Scotland a right old doing. They made 362, with the Finch Hitter getting 148, and the Scots are already 12/2 off seven overs.
OVER 6: ENG 19/1 (Wright 5* Taylor 2*) Couple of wides but otherwise superb from Trent Johnston. Okay, not much in the way of pace, but he's pitching it up and getting some seriously good seam bowling. Beats Taylor outside off. Gets one ball to rear up on Taylor (not saying much, I guess) and hits his splice.
OVER 5: ENG 17/1 (Wright 5* Taylor 2*) Wright pulls a four but this is another impressive over from Timmy.
There was a very challenging opinion piece by Irish journalist Ger Siggins in the (Irish) Independent and also in Cricinfo this week (sorry, not sure which one was the first apperance of it) about England's relationship to Irish cricket.
It's not just that their selectors have been grooming and cherry-picking our best players for more than a decade. Nor that they have rubbed our noses in it by selecting one Irishman to captain England - at his former club - and another to make his one-day debut here.
Nor even that they have ridiculed Cricket Ireland's best efforts to create a national stadium in a village field and sell 10,000 tickets to watch the nations clash, by sending a team devoid of any of its household names.
No, although all the above contribute to the throbbing ulcer, the real pain and anger are caused by the perception of an utter lack of support for Ireland's efforts to lift itself into the game's elite.
Andrew Holgate really covering his bases here: "Ireland playing cricket is like girls playing football. All well and good, but it will never catch on."
OVER 4: ENG 12/1 (Wright 1* Taylor 1*) Little James Taylor, who is little, comes to the crease. Big day for him as well. Defends three and then tucks a single away for one. England chasing 270
WICKET! Carberry lbw Johnston 10 Ah, shame. Michael Carberry has not had a good ODI debut, and I really fear that he hasn't taken his England chance. Full ball, over the wicket, swings back into the left-handed Hampshire man and he's correctly given out lbw. Good nut. PItched middle and off, would have hit middle. FOW 11/1
OVER 3: ENG 11/0 (Carberry 10* Wright 1*) LBW shout for Timmy M against Carberry, inside edge saved him. Short ball tucked through leg for four.
OVER 2: ENG 5/0 (Carberry 5* Wright 0*) Trent Johnston starts with a poor ball down leg, Carberry helps that on its way for a four. Nothing wrong with the rest of the over, though, accurate and hitting the seam. Five dots.
OVER 1: ENG 1/0 (Carberry 1* Wright 0*) A good over from Tim Murtagh, accurate and getting just enough seam movement. Only one run off the over, Carberry on his way with a single to the offside.
14.45 Right then. Well, whatever countries they might or might not be from, here come the players. Tim Murtagh of Middlesex, a chap I have enjoyed watching many times for his (my) county, will open the bowling. I might add, I think Tim himself could well have had a shot at an England call-up in the past. He took a lot of wickets, season-in, season-out. Perhaps an extra yard of pace would have been the only missing part of the jigsaw. Big innings for Michael Carberry, he had a horrid time in the field and with his bowling.
14.35 Back from another scarfed meal in Victoria Station. What an absolute black hole of food options it is. They want eight quid for a burrito. COME OFF IT PEDRO. Anyway. the players are having their lunch in Dublin, Ireland I think will be pleased with the day so far. I make it about 70-30 in England's favour but who knows. Definitely a live game at half time. A couple of emails, perhaps?
Peter Rowntree: "That is a very respectable performance by Ireland, underpinned largely by a wonderful knock by Porterfield. Rankin did himself no harm there and was the pick of the English bowlers. Two English hopefuls for the winter did themselves no favours. Carberry after a prolific season was woeful in the field. Stokes on the back of a tremenous all-round performance against Yorkshire showing that his bowling is not yet up to standard for international cricket."
Carl McClean, Ulsterman in London: "I am against England and Wales picking Irishmen because. 1) Ireland will be stuck as a sideshow at the World Cup, despite excellent performances. 2) From England and Wales' point of view, surely it's far more fun to pick your own men, and feel that your country wins events, without having to rely on Irishmen, Saffers, etc? 3) Cricket is about honour and glory, not financial incentives which promote a 'win-at-all-costs' mentality. 3) England are number two in the world, for goodness' sake, it's not like they are a struggling outfit trying to make up the numbers! Ditto the All Blacks. 4) Please keep coming to Ireland, North and South, the crowds love it."
I must say I agree with some of Carl's points, although I wonder if point 2) was in play just now when Johannesburg-born Max Sorensen and New South Wales-born Trent Johnston were whacking England's bowlers about. I think the reality of international cricket these days is that guys are going to adopt whichever country gives them the best chance of a living and a career. I personally find it hard to criticise a man for that.
ENGLAND WILL NEED 270 TO BEAT IRELAND (269/7) That is a handy score from Ireland, all told. Porterfield made a fine 112, although he was one of two batsmen dropped by Michael Carberry in the deep. Ireland got becalmed between over 30 (140/4) and over 40 (179/5) but a good late burst of 90 runs in the last ten overs has bashed them to a decent, if not secure, score. England looked a bowler light, but that does mean that they plenty of batting - Buttler seven, Stokes eight, Tredwell nine - and they would expect to win from here, although it is by no means a cert.
I am not sure if Michael mentioned earlier or not, but rather a nice quirk with the Joyce wicket. He was given out hit wicket with Rankin the bowler. In a World Cup match in Guayana back in 2007, Ed Joyce was also bowled by Royd Rankin... expect on that occasion, Ed was playing for England and Boyd was playing for Ireland. I'd love to know if anyone can think of a similar double-reverse wicket? Just going to get a bite to eat and then we'll see if England can get this 270.
OVER 50: IRE 269/7 (Sorensen 24* Johnston 12*) Finn. Good stuff from him in the first half of the over, back of a length in the main but using a bit of pace variation. Crowd give Michael Carberry grief when he fields a smeared pull, Carberry not entering into the spirit. Oh, but now Finn serves up a full, slower, floaty one and Sorensen - making a most handy contribution to his new side on debut - nails it down the ground for six. Single, and then Johnston has drilled a full ball right back past the bowler for four. That all adds up to an expensive 13 run closing over. 40 off the last 26 balls from this pair. Batted.
OVER 49: IRE 256/7 (Sorensen 16* Johnston 7*) Sorensen nudges a legside ball on its way to the fence for four, not brilliant from Stokes with the long leg up, but only singles from the rest of the over. The ball's not really coming on. Nine from the over. Finn will bowl the last.
OVER 48: IRE 247/7 (Sorensen 10* Johnston 6*) Sorensen nails Finny over square leg for six. Shot sir! Decent LBW shout next ball, but the umpire correctly calls it as going down leg. Few singles, Finn knocks the bails off with his knee AGAIN, Rankin nearly gets his face rearranged by a bumpy ball in the outfield, which everyone finds quite funny.
OVER 47: IRE 235/7 (Sorensen 3* Johnston 4*) Those two wickets, naturally, have slowed Ireland up and Stokes sends down a useful five-run over. Johannesburg-born Max Sorensen (one for England to look at maybe, ha ha) and the veteran campaigner Trent Johnson (born New South Wales) at the crease.
Lanky: "Can somebody enlighten me as to why Morgan is the captain of the ODI team? He shows no skill whatsoever as a capain and doesn't deserve a place in the team as his form is so poor. So, why?" Well, he is the most experienced player in the England XI, with 103 ODI caps to his name. Next most is Ravi with 90. Then after that, you're down to Wright with 47. Also, England might reasonably assume that he has some insight into the opposition players?
OVER 46: IRE 230/7 (Sorensen 1* Johnston 1*) Six runs off the over by hook or by crook, but those two wickets a big set-back. Rankin has a four-fer.
WICKET! Porterfield b Rankin 112 Revenge for Rankin after his former team-mate nailed him for six. He spots Porterfield backed away to leg, Rankin followed him with the ball and yorked him leg stump. A memorable knock comes to an end, well batted Will, his sixth ODI ton and I daresay the one he will be telling the grandkids about. He has made 112 before in and ODI, 112 not out in fact against Bermuda. Other tons have come against Scotland, Canada, Bangers, Kenya. I hope I am not being an arrogant Englishman when I suggest that this might be his favourite. FOW 224/6
... this is turning into a bit of an epic over, two balls are called wide ...
WICKET! Mooney lbw b Rankin 27 And off the fifth ball of the over, Rankin gets the other well-set batsman with a full ball, it definitely looked like it would have gone on to hit the stumps, but replays confirm the first-look suspicion that this pitched outside leg. Ireland haven't had a lot of luck with the decisions today. FOW 229/7
OVER 45: IRE 224/5 (Porterfield 112* Mooney 25*) That's an over for Ireland! 13 off it, the highlight a clever flick to leg from Porters. Four byes in there as well, Stokes' slower ball bouncing in front of Buttler and beating him.
OVER 44: IRE 211/5 (Porterfield 104* Mooney 25*) Mooney gets a single with a dilscoop, and launches a ball down the ground for four. But Porterfield and Mooney both miss with huge wild swings in this over, and the frustration starting to build for Mooney as he does a swear. Nick Knight has to apolywog on his behalf. I guess that's the world we live in now. God forbid that someone's day might be ruined by hearing a sportsman bark out an indecipherable curse word in the heat of the moment.
OVER 43: IRE 204/5 (Porterfield 103* Mooney 21*) Quiet over all round as Ravi is worked for four singles. Mooney trying to be inventive but it's not quite happening for him yet.
OVER 42: IRE 200/5 (Porterfield 101* Mooney 19*) Boyd Rankin back on. Fantastic from the Ireland skipper. He takes a step forward and slams the ball over midwicket for a six that brings up his 100! Baseball style. What a way to get there, and I daresay he will enjoy the fact that it came off former team-mate Rankin. Great moment for Irish cricket. Few singles make this a nine-run over and Ireland are back in business after a quiet period.
OVER 41: IRE 191/5 (Porterfield 94* Mooney 17*) Blimey, Michael Carberry is having a DOG of a game. Morgan brings him on for a bowl and he serves up an over of club level filth. All too full, plenty of width outside the offstump of these two left handers, and his very gentle off spin is spanked again and again through extra cover for ones and twos and a four. In fact, pretty much the only straight ball is a full toss, and Porterfield reverse sweeps it for four. 12 runs handed to Ireland on a silver platter and maybe that can get their inning firing again.
OVER 40 PP: IRE 179/5 (Porterfield 89* Mooney 10*) 40 minutes in the 80s for Porters. Few singles and a leg bye, Porterfield drops it and runs, the ball nearly rolls onto the stumps. It won't be a chanceless century, let's say. Anyway, a four-run over, not what you would call a thriller at the moment. 16 off the powerplay.
OVER 39 PP: IRE 175/5 (Porterfield 87* Mooney 9*) Dear me, Michael Carberry! Normally a reliable fielder for Hampshire, but he's shelled a second easy chance in the deep. Okay, this was a bit harder than the first one, but a top-edged sweep from Porterfield really only needed a few steps forward and a safe pair of hands, but Carbs has spilled it. The crowd are delighted.
OVER 38 PP: IRE 171/5 (Porterfield 85* Mooney 7*) Mooney flicks it to square leg and they take two, umpires call it one short, incorrectly as it turns out. Finn does his bail-knocking business. Oh, there's a two off the last ball, I forgot about the no ball. Not exactly an over for the album. Ireland have ground to a halt, they aren't taking any risks at all, I guess planning to save it all up for the last few overs. The pitch has gotten slow with the soft ball.
OVER 37 PP: IRE 167/5 (Porterfield 85* Mooney 4*) Certainly the ground looks very nice indeed, and they've a good crowd in. All temporary stands, but plans are affot for a proper pav and seating and whanot. Pitch is decent. Maybe the outfield not the smoothest but no dramas with that. Anyhow, Ben Stokes comes back on. Just three off the over, Mooney edging it. Porterfield has run aground, hardly scored a run in the last half an hour. Maybe his thoughts have turned to the three figures. I thought for a while that 280 would be on but I would say 250 seems more realistic now. That probably won't be enough, but we should have a game at least. Time for a drink. Umpires are having a word with Eoin Morgan, I am not sure what.
Peter Rowntree: "At the moment I suppose you would have to say we are not good neighbours, and you could feel tempted to say who are England looking at to build a 2015 World Cup squad - the English lads or the Irish lads? But with Ireland's stated objective to become a Test playing nation we have to become better at this and should offer a helping hand. If we can find time in our cricketing schedules to play Lions matches against Bangladesh A, surely we can offer a couple of unofficial Tests played over say 4 days each year with a good Lions squad. I am encouraged by the attendance here. Some 20 years ago I watched cricket in Phoenix Park and at Dublín Universities, there is a good level of interest and capability in Ireland for cricket."
OVER 36 PP: IRE 164/5 (Porterfield 84* Mooney 2*) Powerplay. Excellent stuff from Steve Finn, and excellent stuff from Sky - who have got Big Bob Willis and Charles Colvile in harness on the commentary. Yay, welcome back, Bob. Say something bananas. Well, just one single off that over, Mooney thick edge to third man, and you can't say fairer than that for Finny, who has bowled seven overs for 17. England have kept Ireland very qiuet in the last few overs.
OVER 35: IRE 163/5 (Porterfield 84* Mooney 1*) John Mooney in, very nearly bowled leg stump first ball. Called a wide. I mean, rules is rules, but that only missed the leg pole by about an inch. Quick single to Mooney, direct hit would have been close.
WICKET! K O'Brien c Morgan b Bopara 23 Oh, Kevin O'Brien will be sick. Ravi serves him up two long hops in the over. He pulls the first one for four but he's nailed the second one straight to Morgan at midwicket, excellent catch. The dangerous O'Brien goes, and England will be very pleased to see the back of him just before the PP. FOW 161/5
OVER 34: IRE 157/4 (K O'Brien 19* Porterfield 84*) Better over from Wright, O'Brien gets a couple of leading edges. Five off the over. If these two are still here for the powerplay, they could cash in.
OVER 33: IRE 152/4 (K O'Brien 17* Porterfield 81*) Tredwell head and shoulders above the other England bowlers, the only one who really looks dangerous and this pair will be happy to see him off. Just one off the over. Tredders finishes his ten overs with two for 35. Well bowled.
OVER 32: IRE 151/4 (K O'Brien 16* Porterfield 81*) Ha, as Mike Atherton notes, Wright has made a mug of his captain there! Morgan thoughtfully brings up his third man to Kevin O'Brien... perhaps a plan, little bit of inside knowledge, research, Celtic mysticism or whatever. Wright helpfully serves up a short wide one outside off that O'Brien tucks into the now-vaccant third man area. Cheers, Wrighty.
Ken Andrew: "Living here in Ireland it seems that most Irish sporting heroes appear to play Premier League football."
OVER 31: IRE 146/4 (K O'Brien 11* Porterfield 81*) Tredwell finds the edge of Porterfield's bat and it races past Ballance at slip, he's stood very close there and that would have been a blinder.
OVER 30: IRE 140/4 (K O'Brien 11* Porterfield 76*) Ravi hasn't really cut the mustard as fifth bowler today, but there are certainly worse options as a sixth than Luke Wright. Poor ball to start with, and Porterfield pulls it for four. Handy over for Ireland, they are able to work the ball around for ones and twos. That said, O'Brien doesn't pick a slower ball and nearly scoops it to Tredwell at cover. 11 off the over.
OVER 29: IRE 129/4 (K O'Brien 7* Porterfield 68*) Kevin O'Brien nails a sweep for four off Tredders. Looking again at the Hawk Eye of the Wilson wicket, he probably was hit outside the line. Hard lines.
OVER 28: IRE 123/4 (K O'Brien 2* Porterfield 68*) Nervy single from O'Brien gets him off strike first ball. Porterfield cannot get the next five away, although he does slap one to mid-off, where it takes a nasty bobble and nearly decapitates Eoin Morgan. I suspect there might be one or two in the home crowd who might have found that amusing, and why not? .
12.20 Afternoon all, Tyers here to take you through until the close, and just in time for a bowling change as Steve Finn come on to see if he can unsettle what has been largely comfortable progress so far for the hosts.
Right, time for me to stop playing pretender and leave you in the more than capable hands of Alan Tyers, who won't spell 'bail' wrong.
OVER 27: IRE 122/4 (K O'Brien 1* Porterfield 68*)
Two singles off Tredwell. Pegging back the run rate and notching up the wickets. A fine display.
WICKET! Wilson lbw b Tredwell 2
Alas, poor Wilson, we hardly noticed thee. Tredwell floats one at off-stump that turns back and clatters the front pad, and the finger goes up. Unlucky, seeing as Hawk Eye later suggests he was truck outside of the line. Two runs, but a decent shift keeping Porterfield on strike from Wilson - and in comes Kevin O'Brien. Big breath everyone... FOW 121/4
OVER 26: IRE 120/3 (Wilson 2* Porterfield 67*)
An American college education, Faberge eggs and Ravi Bopara. He's been far too expensive today. Porterfield is having a field day out there, flicking another boundary down to third man.
OVER 25: IRE 115/3 (Wilson 2* Porterfield 62*)
We're halfway, and you'd have to say advantage Ireland at this stage. Porterfield is timing the ball so well - not a sentence read too often this summer - as England's lack of bowling options leaves the side exposed. Then again, this was always a possibility with the core of the Ashes winners being packed away in bubble wrap until the jaunt Down Under.
OVER 24: IRE 110/3 (Wilson 1* Porterfield 58*)
Boyd Rankin does what he can but there's no stopping Bopara's first delivery going for four leg byes. Porterfield is mopping up anything fuller than length to keep the scoreboard ticking at a fair clip. Wilson sees off the last delviery to keep his captain on strike.
OVER 23: IRE 103/3 (Wilson 1* Porterfield 55*)
Hats off to Tredwell, this has been a masterly spell - 16 for one off five overs that have steadied a shaky England attack. Porterfield spoils another fine set of six with a nicked single off the last delivery.
OVER 22: IRE 102/3 (Wilson 1* Porterfield 54*)
Bopara comes back, and Porterfield remins Morgan why he pulled him out, muscling a pull through mid-on for his fifty. Ireland bring up the ton. Carberry's still getting plenty of stick. Sun still is shining.
OVER 21: IRE 95/3 (Wilson 0* Porterfield 48*)
England needed that, no fear.
WICKET! O'Brien b Tredwell 26
One over on from Carberry's gift, Tredwell gets his man. A quicker one does for O'Brien, who defends nothing but thin air as his off stump takes one full in the face on the last ball of the over.
OVER 20: IRE 90/2 (O'Brien 22* Porterfield 47*)
That drop seems to have rattled England. It's certainly buoyed the Irish crowd at Malahide, who are giving Carberry mild-mannered hell. Stokes' length has let him down there, and O'Brien takes full advantage, clipping a fine one for four off too full a delivery. Nine off the over, all said.
OVER 19: IRE 81/2 (O'Brien 15* Porterfield 45*)
MICHAEL CARBERRY. They don't come any eaier than that. Ever. O'Brien flops up another duff sweep off Tredwell, but gives it some real air this time. It's all too easy for Carberry, down his throat in the deep, but he's juggled it, lost it and dropped it. Absolute shocker.
OVER 18: IRE 79/2 (O'Brien 14* Porterfield 44*)
Well, that was comical. O'Brien mis-times a pull towards Bopara at mid-on that doesn't carry. Porterfield comfortably makes his ground but Ravi can't resist a pop at the stumps, hits them ,and Ireland take a single off the ricochet.
OVER 17: IRE 76/2 (O'Brien 12* Porterfield 43*)
Tredwell's getting some joy out of this pitch, but Ireland are still sniping runs. After seeing a couple turn and pass the bat O'Brien has a bite with a tentative sweep that flops over square leg and lands safe.
OVER 16: IRE 73/2 (O'Brien 10* Porterfield 42*)
What's Ireland's target here? 275 seems a decent ball-park figure. Stokes gives up five singles before the drinks come out.
OVER 15: IRE 68/2 (O'Brien 7* Porterfield 40*)
Tredwell comes in for the hapless Bopara, and delivers a fully functional first delivery - albeit one sent packing for a single by O'Brien. Porterfield has rediscovered his touch, steering a reverse sweep for another boundary.
OVER 14: IRE 63/2 (O'Brien 6* Porterfield 36*)
Stokes seems far more comfortable out there than Bopara, but that doesn't stop Porterfield picking up a couple more after lofting one over square and short of Finn at deep point.
"I know the world is obsessed with overhyped and overpaid footballers but please, in cricket the word is “bail”."
Good point well made, Malckam, apologies. Force of habit and all that. Though given what we've just had forced down our throats for the past three months, who wouldn't want Jimmy Anderson to test Real Madrid's new keepy-uppy champion with one of his very finest? Let's see what £86m really gets you, hey?
OVER 13: IRE 60/2 (O'Brien 5* Porterfield 34*)
This all looks a little too early for Bopara. Maybe the ball is still too new, maybe he's not quite woken up yet, but Porterfield is making hay. A couple of solid drives past extra cover help Ireland to 10 from the over.
Our first Irish sporting legend of the day, brought to you by Simon Loughins:
"David Healy – that goal against England and that hat-trick against Spain, hero"
A fine servant of Leeds Utd back in the day as well. Any more, ladies and gents?
OVER 12: IRE 50/2 (O'Brien 4* Porterfield 25*)
We're into the belly of this innings now, and soon we'll see how England get on without that extra quick man in the attack. Ben Stokes takes his bow, and goes for something different with his first delivery - a no ball, and a huge one at that. He gets away with it as Porterfield gets the free hit caught up in his pads. A couple off a nice punch through midwicket that Taylor cuts off brings up the 50 for Ireland.
OVER 11: IRE 46/2 (O'Brien 4* Porterfield 22*)
Ravi Bopara joins the attack and opens with what is becoming the obligatory wide. Porterfield follows O'Brien's lead and punches a short one backward of point past Taylor for four. Borderline bullying on the young man, this. He stops Porterfield's next stab for a single.
OVER 10: IRE 40/2 (O'Brien 4* Porterfield 17*)
Not a bad Powerplay, that - two wickets and a couple of maidens to show for it from England's point of view. Niall O'Brien moves off the mark with a sumptuous pull that teases a diving James Taylor on the way past. Would have been one of the catches of the season, had he plucked thta rocket out of the sky.
OVER 9: IRE 36/2 (O'Brien 0* Porterfield 17*)
Whatever Eoin Morgan said to his bowlers a couple of overs back, it's don'e the trick. The lengths are spot on now and the men in green are struggling to crack the attack. Porterfield cops one from Finn flush on the skid lid, not that you could call it a bouncer - the Irish skipper was all but sat down trying to avoid it.
OVER 8: IRE 36/2 (O'Brien 0* Porterfield 17*)
Should Joyce have walked there? Tough to say. Replays suggest he didn't realise it had happened - he didn't even turn to check - but surely he's felt his foot clip the stumps. O'Brien could have joined him shortly after, returning his second ball for a potential return catch to Rankin.
WICKET! Joyce hit wicket b Rankin 1
There's a bale off there. The wind chanced a run-out by the looks of things...or did it? Ed Joyce leapt back from Boyd Rankin's bouncer, and he's caught the stumps with his heel. The fluoro-pink bale almost apologeitically dropped to the ground. I think only Rankin noticed that - even Joyce hadn't realised. But a quick TV review soon sees to that.
OVER 7: IRE 36/1 (Porterfield 17* Joyce 1*)
Joyce steers his first run behid square, but Finn is starting to get some promising movement off the seam. That's enough to keep Porterfield honest, and that bright start from Ireland is starting to fizzle out.
SUN STOPS PLAY IN IRELAND. Albeit briefly. The glare of the covers is right behind the bowler's arm, but nothing a bit of black-out fabric can't cure. Back underway.
OVER 6: IRE 35/1 (Porterfield 17* Joyce 0*)
Joyce is still looking to get off the mark, a wide and a leg bye all they have to show as the run rate dips below a run a ball. Porterfield gets away with a waft at Rankin's last delivery.
OVER 5: IRE 33/1 (Porterfield 17* Joyce 0*)
Steven Finn is getting the treatment from Will Porterfield. Another four sails through wide of point. This was not the morale-boosting start the Middlesex man needed as he looks to get his England prospects back on track.
OVER 4: IRE 25/1 (Porterfield 9* Joyce 0*)
Stirling will be disappointed but Ireland are clipping along at around a run a ball, which bodes well for a testing target for England.
WICKET! Stirling c Ballance b Rankin 10
He's 23 today, Paul Stirling. Good of Rankin to remember it seemed, offering up a couple of poor lengths to be dispatched to the boundary, much to the delight of the Dublin crowd. They're looking to pounce early, but that was too early, and Rankin has his man when he nicks it through to second slip. Good low catch from Ballance.
OVER 3: IRE 17/0 (Porterfield 9* Stirling 2*)
Ireland getting acquainted with a pleasant time now. Expansive cut from Stirling to third man brings about a single, the Porterfield does likewise, sending a reasonable Finn delivery to third man. Stirling will keep the strike after adding one more. I will not keep the liveblog, I'm now handing you over to Michael Beattie.
OVER 2: IRE 14/0 (Porterfield 8* Stirling 1*)
Boyd Rankin, who's really made the red number 65 shirt his own this morning, will attack from the Dublin Road end. Solid start but yeesh, Rankin's second is all over the shop. Several feet wide, Carberry gives chase but can't prevent a wide, and four byes. Stirling leaves a couple alone but gets off the mark with some positive running. Porterfield adds a duplicate boundary to his first over effort, clipping Rankin away to fine leg. Thoroughly decent start for the hosts.
OVER 1: IRE 4/0 (Porterfield 4* Stirling 0*)
Porterfield leaves the first ball of the day alone, but glances Finn's second delivery off his hip for a four. Plenty of movement from Finn's next couple of balls, positively zipping away from Porterfield off the seam. The batsman plays and misses at Finn's next delivery but let's the final ball of the over go. Good stuff from Finn, apart from the boundary.
10.28 Here we go then, it'll be Steven Finn to get us started.
10.26 Let's hope Michael Carberry has a bowl at some point today. He prompts giggles:
10.20 This is an England line-up we can all get behind, right?
Expecting fairly exciting things from the opening duo. Carberry, interestingly, makes his ODI debut, but has played in a Test for England before.
10.15 Medium part of the morning to you, liveblog fans.
There's a lot said about the sheer weight of cricket, this summer and always. The Champions Trophy. The Ashes. Some T20. Lots of ODIs. It's certainly all slightly wearing. Especially when it's all played against the same team.
What we have today is a delicious palate-cleanser. The mild novelty of a team that generally only come to the casual cricket fan's attention in World Cups, and a delightful change of scenery to a positively sun-drenched Dublin for an England team delighted to be away from stadiums named after energy companies.
Dublin and the England cricket team, eh? What could possibly go wrong.... Fortunately the XI featuring today has very little wicket urination experience in its ranks. To all intents and purposes it's a Lions outfit.
More mild novelty! What more could you possibly want? We shall talk you through it all. Stay tuned.
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