Batsmen hit form as Ireland get back to winning ways
CRICKET:
Ireland found their form in the Netherlands with a 46-run win over Scotland at Deventer, with Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie and captain Gary Wilson all hitting fifties – only the third time this has happened in T20 Internationals. Ireland had suffered two disappointing defeats to the Netherlands during the week but were in super form after Wilson decided to bat upon winning the toss against the Scots. Stirling started the innings with 51 off 29 balls and after James Shannon’s early exit, put on 51 with Balbirnie, who went on to make 74 in 40 balls. Wilson himself added 58 off 38 as Ireland finished their 20 overs on 205-5. In reply George Munsey and captain Kyle Coetzer put on 65 for Scotland’s first wicket in less than seven overs. George Dockrell removed them both in his spell of 2-15 in three overs and after that the Scots were always behind the rate, ending on 159-5. The two sides meet again today.
CRICKET:
EXPLOSIVE batting from Jason Roy and Jos Buttler helped England record their highest ever ODI score against Australia and a a second successive win by 38 runs at Cardiff. Roy’s fifth ODI century and Buttler’s unbeaten 91 propelled England to 342 for eight.
CRICKET:
SRI LANKA refused to take the field in protest at a ball-tampering penalty awarded against them at the start of the third day of the second Test in St Lucia yesterday. After a delay of more than two hours, Sri Lanka finally returned to play.