How did Ireland beat England?
After a stunning performance against England, the Irish have managed to do a few things that add novelty to the ongoing Cricket discussions.
So I asked a few cricket loving, beer loving friends of mine, ‘Did you see the Ireland match?’ (Note that no reference of England was required at all). Haan yaar kya thok dala na… Kya mara yaar voh sale ne (yes dude they hammered them… that guy hit them so cleanly).
I couldn’t agree more. Kevin O’Brien didn’t seem to hit a single mistimed shot, not a single edge. Almost everything he hit with intent was headed to the ropes. Kevin got his first 50 off 30 balls and the second 50 of just 20 balls. Let us also not forget the support provided by Cusak and Mooney. Kevin, Cusak and Mooney looked so calm towards the end of the game as if they were chasing 327 for the umpteenth time and knew exactly which ball to hit to the fence and which ones to defend.
So how did Ireland really win? Yes the obvious answer is Kevin O’Brien won it for them. However apart from the brilliant innings a few other things stand out that Ireland did brilliantly and England failed miserably at.
Firstly let me re-emphasize that 300 runs is not a winning total, especially on the flat bowler-killer-batting-track at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore.
Now coming back to what England did not do. The English fast and medium pacers were a one pace attack. They barely bowled any across the seam cutters to upset the batsman’s rhythm. They did not try many slower balls. Not a single English bowler showed even a hint of reverse swing. They are all hit-the-deck bowlers and on that pitch the ball just sat up begging to be hit.
In contrast Johnston and Mooney bowled some brilliant cutters and variation balls for Ireland in the last 4 overs. England scored just 27 runs in the last 4 and lost 4 wickets.
In the Ind vs Eng match on the same ground, Zaheer Khan bowled some brilliant reverse swinging balls that got India back into the game that eventually ended in a tie.
Lack of variation in bowling is what cost England the match.