England beat Ireland by six wickets in the final T20 at Malahide to wrap up a 2-0 series win.
Jordan Cox struck his first international fifty to guide England home. He scored 55 from 35 balls with four fours and four sixes. England chased down the target of 155 with 17 balls left.
Captain Jacob Bethell’s side had won the first match by four wickets. The second game was washed out by rain.
England made a shaky start in the chase. Jos Buttler fell for a duck to a stunning one-handed catch from Curtis Campher. Bethell managed 15 before he too departed.
Cox then took charge. He shared a stand of 57 with Phil Salt, who made 29 from 23 balls. Later, Cox added 49 with Tom Banton, who stayed unbeaten on 37. Banton hit the winning run to seal victory.
Earlier, Ireland posted 154 for eight after being put in to bat. Ross Adair hit 33 from 23 balls and Gareth Delany finished on 48 not out from 29. Delany struck two sixes in a row at the death to lift the total.
Sonny Baker endured a tough debut. The young pacer gave away 52 runs from four overs without a wicket. He had earlier gone for 76 from seven overs on his ODI debut against South Africa.
England’s spinners impressed. Adil Rashid took three for 29, while Liam Dawson picked up two for nine in just two overs. Jamie Overton claimed two for 17.
Cox, who had earlier hurt his knee while fielding, overturned an lbw decision on 24 before pushing on to his half-century.
Bethell, standing in as captain for the rested Harry Brook, lifted the trophy after the win. It capped off a successful week for England.
