When all is said and done, Ireland’s first Test Match at Lord’s will be remembered well.
England have won by 143 runs thanks to a blood-thirsty Chris Woakes but the maiden excursion of the Irish into the Test ranks in London saw them put up a show to be proud of, one that had the impervious opposition by the pins of their collars at time.
And Day 3 started so well for Ireland.
Stuart Thompson had the sporting world sitting up on Friday morning when, with the very first ball of the day, he found wood and left Ireland needing a manageable 182 to make history and win the whole match.
What a start for Ireland! 🇮🇪
Stone loses his leg stump with the first ball of the day with an inswinger from Thompson!
Follow over-by-over commentary from Lord's as England face Ireland in a Test for the first time live on Sky Sports Cricket: https://t.co/etduCLJcoS #ENGvIRE pic.twitter.com/8IULhmqDuh
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 26, 2019
But when the questions were asked in front of their home crowd, the English had more that enough answers and needed just over 15 overs to see off the 10 Irish men sent out to cause a gigantic upset.
182 the target, go well lads 💪#BackingGreen ☘️ pic.twitter.com/qFbxwPicMc
— Cricket Ireland (@cricketireland) July 26, 2019
Stuart Broad put a big dent in the hopes with four wickets but it was the manic Chris Woakes who was running around like a lunatic, intent on breaking hearts and doing it at break-neck speed.
Woakes completed six wickets for himself and did that inside 7.4 overs with an array of bowling that ruthlessly destroyed the plans of each Irish batter, one by one.
In the end, Ireland were all out for 38 and it was England who broke the record, forcing the lowest Test score at Lord’s.
Still, the shamrock emblem was applauded off the grass as Tim Murtagh exited stage left. The standard of first two days – and the first ball of day three – were not lived up to but the occasion of the Irish contesting their first Test Match at Lord’s was.
They’ll be back.
