Cricket news round-up – 25 July: Ireland on top at Lord’s, Kulasekara retires

England have their back against the wall in the Lord’s Test against Ireland; Nuwan Kulasekara announced retirement from international cricket; Nepal beat Malaysia in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Region Final 2019; India Under-19s won their second consecutive match in England; and Gloucestershire won a thriller against Worcestershire.

Murtagh put Ireland on top

Born in London, Tim Murtagh has played for Middlesex for years. Now, with Ireland playing their first ever Test at Lord’s, he decided to make the occasion special by running through England with 5/13. Mark Adair (3/32) and Boyd Rankin (2/8) helped as well, and England were bowled out for 85 in 23.4 overs – their shortest first-innings total at home – before lunch.

Only three England batsmen reached double figures. At one point England’s score read 43/7, Joe Denly having scored 23 of them. They then made a recovery of sorts.

Sam Curran (3/28), debutant Olly Stone (3/29), and Stuart Broad (3/60) then bowled out Ireland for 207, leaving England to bat out a maiden over from Murtagh. At one point Ireland were 132/2 after Andy Balbirnie (55) and Paul Stirling (36) added 87 in 89 balls, but they lost 5 for 17 from there before Kevin O’Brien (28*) bailed them out.

Kulasekara retires

Nuwan Kulasekara has retired from all international cricket with immediate effect. He had contemplated making the announcement immediately after the World Cup, only to stay back to be a part of Lasith Malinga’s farewell match.

Once that request was turned down, Kulasekara saw no further reason for delay. However, he will continue to feature in T20 leagues.

Kulasekara finished with 199 wickets, the fifth-most in Sri Lankan history, from 184 ODIs. He also hit 4 fifties. His 66 wickets from 58 T20Is is their joint second-most, after Malinga’s tally of 97. Not a great success in Test cricket, his 21 matches produced 48 wickets and a fifty.

Nepal open account

Nepal made amends to their shock defeat against Qatar by defeating Malaysia by 7 wickets. Sompal Kami (3-0-23-3) removed both Malaysia openers for golden ducks after Nepal put them in. Syed Aziz (30 in 15 balls) helped Malaysia recover to 83/7.

There was no Paras Khadka, so stand-in captain Gyanendra Malla (51 in 21) sealed it himself. Nepal won with an over in hand despite as Mohammad Syahadat’s 2-0-19-3 went in vain.

India Under-19s win again

India Under-19s beat Bangladesh Under-19s by 35 runs at New Road, in the third match of the Tri-Series Under-19s Tournament in England. Captain Priyam Garg (100* in 97 balls) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (64) took India to 264/5 despite Mrittunjoy Chowdhury’s 2/45.

Kartik Tyagi (4/16) then took two early wickets. There was early resistance from Tamzid Hasan (44 in 45), while captain Akbar Ali (56) and Shamim Hossain (46) added 98 for the sixth wicket. Unfortunately, Chowdhury’s late charge (33 in 27) was not good enough as India Under-19s won by 35 runs.

Both teams have already beaten England Under-19s once each. The teams will play each other four times, followed by a final.

County Championship Division 2 roundup

Gloucestershire beat Worcestershire by 13 runs at Cheltenham. Chasing 246, the tourists were 73/1 at one point thanks to Riki Wessels (42) before being reduced to 100/4. Callum Ferguson (63) and Ben Cox (42) then added 81 for the fifth wicket.

Yet another mini-collapse left Worcestershire at 198/7 before Wayne Parnell and Joe Leach added 31. Then, with 17 to win, they lost 3 for 0 in 6 balls to concede the match.