Phil Salt spearheaded England to a dominant victory in the opening T20 International against Ireland at Malahide, North Dublin, marking their first-ever T20 win against the Irish in a three-match series. Stand-in captain Bethell, the youngest player to lead an English side, won the toss adn elected to bowl, after replacing the injured Harry Brook.Ireland’s opening pair, Paul Stirling and Ross Adair, began cautiously but finished the powerplay at 49-0, with Stirling contributing significant boundaries. Stirling hit four sixes, two of which landed on the roof of the hospitality tent.
The partnership was broken in the eighth over when Adair was caught on the boundary by Phil Salt off Liam Dawson‘s bowling. Stirling followed shortly after, dismissed by Adil Rashid with Will Jacks taking the catch, nine deliveries and ten runs later.Harry Tector and Lorcan tucker then stabilized the innings, prioritizing singles, though Tector still managed seven boundaries in his quickfire unbeaten 61 from 36 balls. He reached his half-century with a six but was eventually out edging the penultimate ball to Jos Buttler.
