New Delhi:
Before the start of the third day, Ireland were on the cusp of creating history. They had established a lead of 118 runs and they made the perfect start to the day when they took the last wicket of Ollie Stone for 0. Needing 182, they were 11/0 before the rain delay for close to 30 minutes. However, following the rain break, England had their tails up and in ideal conditions for swing bowling, Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad showed their mastery as they dismantled the Irish top order. Woakes took yet another five-wicket haul and ended with 6/17 while Broad ended with figures of 4/19 as Ireland were bowled out for 38, the seventh-lowest total in Test history as England won the one-off Test at Lord's by 143 runs on the third day on Friday.
The Test match had started with a bang on day one when 20 wickets. However, Ireland had established a lead of over 100. On the second day, with temperatures touching 40, Jack Leach produced a magnificent performance when promoted to opening the batting from his usual No.11 position. His 92 and his stand of 145 with Jason Roy, who blasted 72 helped England reach 303/9 and stay alive in the match.
On the third day, under heavy cloud cover, Stuart Thompson dismissed Stone for 0 with the first ball and Ireland needed 182 for victory. Ireland made steady progress to 11/0 when the rain delay took place. Following the delay, Woakes was in fine form when William Porterfield edged him to Jonny Bairstow who took a fine one-handed catch. Complimenting Woakes at the other end was Broad and the duo bowled unchanged and swung the ball prodigiously as Ireland's top order wilted.
Andrew Balbirnie and Paul Stirling fell cheaply while Gary Wilson fell for a pair. Wilson, the Irish wicketkeeper and Jonny Bairstow, the England keeper both fell for pairs in the same Test and this was the first instance in Test history. Wickets kept on tumbling and Ireland were in danger of getting bowled out for the lowest total ever in Tests. However, Mark Adair hit a six off Broad and Thompson smashed a four down the ground of Woakes.
With a hint of rain in the air, England had their tails up. Woakes and Broad continued to strike at regular intervals and victory was sealed when Woakes took the final wicket of Murtagh for 2. In the end, Ireland will be hurting that they missed a golden chance to create history while for England, it represented the great escape after being bowled out for 85 in the first innings.
