England skittled Ireland for the seventh lowest Test total ever recorded, and the lowest since 1955, as the hosts strolled to victory on day three of the Specsavers Test Match at Lord’s.
Chris Woakes, who already has two entries to his name on the Honours Board at the Home of Cricket, made full use of the seamer-friendly conditions to secure a third with figures of 6 for 17. the other four wickets fell to Stuart Broad as the pair bowled unchanged to bundle the visitors out for just 38.
Ireland were chasing a target of 182 to win after finishing off England’s innings with the first delivery of the day, when Stuart Thompson bowled Olly Stone for no score. With almost two full days available in which to bat, Will Porterfield’s men had their best chance yet of a maiden Test victory, and it would have been a famous one.
The home side had other ideas as a revitalised England attack took just 94 deliveries to rip through Ireland’s batting line-up, with James McCollum the only Irish batsman to make double figures as they capitulated to defeat by 143 runs.
England will now turn their attentions to the Ashes series, which begins at Edgbaston next Thursday 1st August. The second Test of the series begins at Lord’s on Wednesday 14th August.
Next Up at Lord's:
T20 Vitality Blast returns to Lord's on both Thursday 1st August and Thursday 8th August as Middlesex take on Kent and Surrey respectively. Find out more here.