Ireland stun England at T20 World Cup to throw Super 12s wide open

From juggernaut to nought. England’s air of invincibility was washed away on a damp and dramatic afternoon in Melbourne, where they lost an abbreviated game to an outstanding Ireland by five runs.

With rain forecast and the required score in case it arrived displayed throughout on the giant stadium scoreboard Englandbatted as if bathed in sunshine and paid the price, deservedly cast in Ireland’s shadow at the end.

They say that failure is an orphan, but England’s here had a long and indistinguished family tree. It was rain in the end that washed away their victory hopes, their innings cut short 5.3 overs from its scheduled conclusion and with the score frustratingly just behind DLS par. But they had been poor in the field, key bowlers had leaked runs and the batting had been pedestrian. Ireland batted brilliantly in the opening half of their innings and their seamers followed that up with the ball.

Gareth Delaney was bowling when the rain camer. Moeen Ali had hit his first ball for six, his second for two, and the third for four. Had he been allowed to deliver three more balls England could have won the game, but they can hardly complain about their luck.

Friday’s game against Australia here – and with a similar forecast – assumes enormous proportions, a virtual eliminator for both sides.

A target of 158 seemed unlikely to fall out of England’s reach, but then Josh Little started bowling, Jos Buttler swung and just missed his first ball, swung and made contact with the second, and was caught by Lorcan Tucker behind the stumps. It was a nightmare start to the innings and soon enough the clouds gathering around the MCG were both literal and figurative.

Having been asked to bat, Ireland motored through the start of their