CLOSE OF PLAY
Ireland started cautiously but ended with a flourish as they gave England a scare. They fighted and kept hopes alive but lost wickets at vital moments. They couldn't keep abreast of the required run rate thus putting pressure on themselves. But they did no harm to their reputation by putting in a good display and not giving it away easily. Niall O'Brien hit a half century while Johnston and White accelerated in the end. England won the match by 48 runs but seemed well below par. Against good sides they would be found wanting. Flintoff was the star performer with the ball with 4 wickets but the Man of the Match was Paul Collingwood for his 90.
WICKET
48.1 : A.FLINTOFF to K.MCCALLAN , OUT - Flintoff gets another one in the blockhole at a good pace and beats the batsman all ends up. McCallan is clean bowled! Ireland is all out for 218 and England wins by 48 runs.
CHANGE OF BOWLER
Sajid Mahmood has been brought back into the attack for his final spell.
NEXT BATSMAN IN
Boyd Rankin is the last batsman to come out to bat.
WICKET
46.1 : A.FLINTOFF to D.L'RD-SMITH, OUT - Dave Langford-Smith is out LBW to a fast yorker from Flintoff. That was a great delivery.
NEXT BATSMAN IN
Dave Langford-Smith is the new batsman at the crease.
WICKET
45.5 : P.C'GWOOD to A.WHITE , OUT - Top edge! White goes for the sweep once again but succeeds in only getting an edge as the ball lobs up for the keeper to take a simple catch.
FOUR
45.2 : P.C'GWOOD to A.WHITE , White gets a thick outside edge and the ball races away to third man for a boundary. The umpire signals four runs.
FOUR
45.1 : P.C'GWOOD to A.WHITE , White plays a cheeky shot to fine leg for a vital boundary.
NEXT BATSMAN IN
Kyle McCallan is the new man in.
WICKET
44.5 : A.FLINTOFF to T.JOHNSTON , OUT - Johnston tries to hit one out of the ground but misses it completely as Flintoff's yorker castles him. That was a good yorker.
CHANGE OF BOWLER
Andrew Flintoff comes back for his third spell.
HIGHLIGHT
Trent Johnston and Andrew White complete a 50 run stand off 46 balls.
FOUR
43.2 : P.C'GWOOD to A.WHITE , White has slammed it through point. The ball races to the boundary. The Umpire signals a boundary.
CHANGE OF BOWLER
Paul Collingwood has been brought back into the attack.
FOUR
42 : S.MAHMOOD to T.JOHNSTON , Johnston has slammed it through point and the ball races to the boundary. The Umpire signals a boundary.
FOUR
41.4 : S.MAHMOOD to A.WHITE , Edged by White. The ball races to the boundary. Four runs has been signalled by The Umpire.
CHANGE OF BOWLER
Sajid Mahmood has been brought back into the attack.
CHANGE OF BOWLER
James Anderson has been brought back into the attack.
SIX
40.3 : J.ANDERSON to T.JOHNSTON , Johnston has launched into that one and cleared the ropes handsomely as the ball goes a long way for a six.
SIX
39 : M.VAUGHAN to T.JOHNSTON , Johnston plays the pull-shot and it goes sailing all the way for six.
NEXT BATSMAN IN
Andrew White is the new batsman to come out to bat.
WICKET
36.2 : M.VAUGHAN to N.O'BRIEN , OUT - Niall O'Brien is foxed by a flighted delivery from Vaughan as he comes down the wicket and misses it while Nixon completes an easy stumping.
NEXT BATSMAN IN
Trent Johnston is the new man in.
WICKET
36 : M.PANESAR to K.O'BRIEN , OUT - Kevin O'Brien is trapped by Monty Panesar in front of the wickets and is adjudged LBW by the umpire.
FOUR
35.5 : M.PANESAR to K.O'BRIEN , Kevin O'Brien goes inside out over covers and picks up a boundary for Ireland after a long time.
DRINKS
At the second drinks break Ireland are struggling to accelerate against the English spinners. They are 133-4 in 35 overs.
NEXT BATSMAN IN
Kevin O'Brien is the new batsman at the crease.
WICKET
29.5 : M.PANESAR to A.BOTHA , OUT - Botha goes for the big shot but only gets a top edge and miscues the ball to Flintoff at long on who completes an easy catch.
HIGHLIGHT
O'Brien completes his half century.
GENERAL
At the half way stage Ireland are 100-3.
3B
23.3 : M.PANESAR to N.O'BRIEN , O'Brien has attempted to put bat on ball - but fails. Good running between the wickets to pick up three runs. Byes has been called by the umpire.
CHANGE OF BOWLER
Michael Vaughan has brought himself onto bowl.
CHANGE OF BOWLER
Monty Panesar has been introduced into the attack.
FOUR
20.3 : A.FLINTOFF to A.BOTHA , Botha has slammed it through point. The ball has crossed the ropes. The Umpire signals four runs.
GENERAL
End of power plays.
NEXT BATSMAN IN
Andre Botha is the new man in.
WICKET
18.5 : A.FLINTOFF to W.P'FIELD, OUT -Porterfield tries to go over the top but Flintoff was equal to the task and the batsman only got a top edge to be caught by Bell at short mid off.
CHANGE OF BOWLER
Andrew Flintoff has been brought back into the attack for his secomd spell.
DRINKS
As drinks are called onto the field for the first time Ireland have steadied their ship. They are 67-2 after 15.4 overs.
FOUR
15.1 : P.C'GWOOD to N.O'BRIEN , O'Brien rocks onto his backfoot and punches the ball through the point region for a boundary.
POWER PLAY
England take their 3rd power play from overs 16-20.
HIGHLIGHT
William Porterfield and Niall O'Brien complete their 50 run partnership of 68 balls. They have steadied the innings.
FOUR
14.1 : S.MAHMOOD to N.O'BRIEN , Delicate glance by O'Brien through the fine leg region for a much needed boundary. The Umpire signals four runs.
CHANGE OF BOWLER
Paul Collingwood has been brought into the attack.
GENERAL
Ireland reach 50-2 after 11.5 overs. That is a good start after the early loss of wickets. They would like to make a match out of this.
FOUR
11.1 : A.FLINTOFF to N.O'BRIEN , The batsman has cover driven the ball beautifully for four. That was well timed and placed right into the gap.
HIGHLIGHT
Joyce drops O'Brien at square leg on 9. That was a simple catch but the fielder mistimed his jump.
CHANGE OF BOWLER
Sajid Mahmood comes back for his second spell.
POWER PLAY
England have taken their 2nd power play from over 11-15.
FOUR
7.1 : A.FLINTOFF to N.O'BRIEN , O'Brien gets an inside edge as the ball merely misses his stumps and races to the fence for four runs.
CHANGE OF BOWLER
Andrew Flintoff has been brought into the attack.
FOUR
6.3 : J.ANDERSON to W.P'FIELD, Thats a crisp straight drive by Porterfield down the ground for four runs.
NEXT BATSMAN IN
Niall O'Brien is the new batsman to come in to bat.
WICKET
3.4 : S.MAHMOOD to W.P'FIELD, Porterfield defends it near his feet and goes for a quick single but the bowler is faster than the non striker and runs him out at the strikers end. Morgan falls short of his crease as Mahmood hits the stump.
GENERAL
Sajid Mahmood to share the new ball with Anderson.
NEXT BATSMAN IN
Eoin Morgan comes out to bat after the fall of the first wicket.
WICKET
0.5 : J.ANDERSON to J.BRAY , OUT - Bray slashes at a wide one and is snapped up by Bopara at point. That was an easy catch.
3WD
0.4 : J.ANDERSON to J.BRAY , The batsman tries flicking a ball that is wide on the leg stumps. Two runs conceded. The Umpire signals a wide.
GENERAL
James Anderson to start proceedings for England.
GENERAL
William Porterfield and Jeremy Bray open the batting for Ireland.