Ireland dismissed for the seventh lowest total of all time

England bowlers Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad ended the hopes of an Irish victory for the ages with a devastating display of seam bowling which will put Australia on notice ahead for the Ashes.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 26: England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow (r) and Jason Roy celebrate after Stuart Broad had dismissed Kevin O' Brien during day three of the Specsavers Test Match between England and Ireland at Lord's Cricket Ground on July 26, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

England gave themselves a huge pre-Ashes boost by skittling Ireland for just 38 to win their one-off Test by 143 runs on Friday, emphatically crushing the visitors’ hopes of a stunning upset.

Ireland, playing only their third Test, were chasing just 182 runs at Lord’s to complete what would have been one of the biggest upsets in cricket history.

But they did not get close, lasting just 94 balls as Chris Woakes took a career-best six wickets for 17 runs and Stuart Broad returned figures of 4-19.

Ireland’s pitiful second-innings score was the seventh-lowest total of all time and the lowest since 1955.

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Stuart Broad of England celebrates taking the wicket of Andy McBrine. Picture: Julian Finney/Getty Images

England ultimately prevailed on a ground where they won the World Cup just 12 days ago but there are major concerns over their batting as they turn their thoughts towards the five-match Ashes series starting next week.

“I knew that was a lot of runs (to make) on that surface,” said England captain Joe Root, whose side mustered just 85 runs in their first innings.

England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow (c) celebrates with Joe Root and Jason Roy after catching William Porterfield. Picture: Stu Forster/Getty Images

“It’s very pleasing, the way we managed certain pressure situations,” he added. “It wasn’t by any stretch the perfect game for us but sometimes that can be a really important part of your learning.” Root accepted that England would need to tighten up their batting against Australia after they had man-of-the-match Jack Leach to thank for their second-innings 303 - the nightwatchman made 92.

- ‘Substandard’ -

But the England skipper also criticised a green pitch prepared by Irish groundsman Karl McDermott, who is in his first season at Lord’s.

“I don’t like saying this but the wicket was substandard for a Test match,” Root said.

“Ireland bowled very well. Credit to Jack Leach for his 92 -- it set an example to everyone, he was very disciplined, knew where to score his runs and left well.

“We’ve got to be slightly tighter and more selective at times, especially the captain.” England had decided to rest World Cup winners Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes while James Anderson, their all-time leading Test wicket-taker, was missing with a calf injury.

Five slips as Stuart Broad steams in. Picture: Julian Finney/Getty Images

All three are expected to be in the Ashes squad due to be named on Saturday. Ireland, playing England for the first time in a Test, have now lost all three of their matches at this level following defeats by Pakistan and Afghanistan, but their day started brilliantly.

England, resuming on their overnight 303 for nine, saw their second innings end with the first ball of the third day’s play when debutant Olly Stone was bowled for a duck by Stuart Thompson.

Ireland had yet to give off the mark in their second innings when rain stopped play just seven balls into their chase and kept the players off the field for more than an hour.

But when the match resumed the overcast conditions -- the floodlights were switched on -- made conditions ideal for seamers Woakes and Broad.

Chris Woakes took career-best figures of 6/38. Picture: Kirsty Wigglesworth

The cascade of wickets in an innings where only opener James McCollum made it into double figures began when Woakes had Ireland captain William Porterfield caught behind by wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow for two.

Andy Balbirnie, who top-scored with 55 in Ireland’s first innings total of 207, fell next when he edged Broad to Root at first slip.

Kevin O’Brien, who hit the quickest World Cup century when Ireland beat England at Bangalore in 2011 and made a hundred in their inaugural Test at home to Pakistan last year, fell for just four, lbw to Broad -- one of three wickets that fell for no runs to leave the visitors 24-6.

Ireland's Paul Stirling leaves the pitch after he is bowled by England's Chris Woakes. Picture: AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth

An extraordinary match ended when Woakes cleaned up tailender Tim Murtagh for his best return in Test cricket.

Porterfield said his side were particularly disappointed because they had put themselves in a position to win the game.

“We knew it was going to be tough with the lights on and drizzle in the air,” he said.

“But we had to dig deep and get through that. Fair play to the two lads to how they bowled -- they made it difficult.”

Ireland’s 38 is the lowest Test cricket score in 45 years, here’s how it ranks against in history:

26 - New Zealand v England at Auckland, March 1955

30 - South Africa v England at Port Elizabeth, Feb 1896

30 - South Africa v England at Birmingham, June 1924

35 - South Africa v England at Cape Town, April 1899

36 - South Africa v Australia at Melbourne, Feb. 1932

36 - Australia v England at Birmingham, May 1902

38 - Ireland v England at Lord’s, July 2019

42 - New Zealand v Australia in Wellington, March 1946

42 - Australia v England in Sydney, Feb 1888

42 - India v England at Lord’s, June 1974

SCORECARD

England 1st Innings 85 (T Murtagh 5-13, M Adair 3-32)

Ireland 1st Innings 207 (A Balbirnie 55; S Curran 3-28, O Stone 3-29, S Broad 3-60)

England 2nd Innings 303 (J Leach 92)

Ireland 2nd Innings (target: 182)

W. Porterfield c Bairstow b Woakes 2

J. McCollum c Root b Woakes 11

A. Balbirnie c Root b Broad 5

P. Stirling b Woakes 0 K. O’Brien lbw b Broad 4

G. Wilson lbw b Woakes 0

S. Thompson c Root b Woakes 4

M. Adair b Broad 8

A. McBrine c Root b Broad 0

T. Murtagh b Woakes 2

B. Rankin not out 0 Extras (b1, lb1) 2

Total (all out, 15.4 overs, 93 mins) 38

Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Porterfield), 2-18 (Balbirnie), 3-19 (Stirling), 4-24 (McCollum), 5-24 (Wilson), 6-24 (O’Brien), 7-32 (Adair), 8-36 (Thompson), 9-36 (McBrine), 10-38 (Murtagh) Bowling: Broad 8-3-19-4; Woakes 7.4-2-17-6

Result: England won by 143 runs Man-of-the-match: Jack Leach (ENG)

Toss: England Umpires: Ruchira Palliyaguruge (SRI), Aleem Dar (PAK) TV umpire: Paul Wilson (AUS) Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)