England v Ireland: Hosts wrap up six-wicket victory on ODI return

England eased to a six-wicket win over Ireland on their return to one-day internationals at the Ageas Bowl.

Chasing just 173, and without a number of regulars who are away with the Test squad, England were stuttering at 78-4.

But Eoin Morgan and Sam Billings, who made 67 not out, shared an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 96 to seal the victory with 22.1 overs to spare.

David Willey earlier marked his England recall by taking his first five-wicket haul in international cricket.

The left-armer, playing his first international since being left out of last year's World Cup squad, took four wickets with the new ball and returned to take the final wicket, finishing with 5-30.

Ireland had been 28-5 at one stage and could have suffered a far heavier defeat but for an unbeaten 59 by 21-year-old debutant Curtis Campher.

The win gives England 10 points in their first game of the newly formed World Cup Super League and a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Like the recent Test series against West Indies, these matches are being played behind closed doors in a bio-secure bubble with ODIs to follow on Saturday and Tuesday.

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Willey makes his point

It is hard to argue with England's decision to drop Willey on the eve of last summer's World Cup but that did not make it any less brutal.

He had been a key player in the preceding years but was left out to accommodate pace bowler Jofra Archer, who went on to star in England's triumphant campaign. having become eligible shortly before the tournament.

Willey's second chance may not have come but for the nature of this summer which has left England needing to pick separate Test and one-day squads, meaning Archer, Mark Wood and Chris Woakes are all absent from this squad.

The 30-year-old admitted he considered quitting the sport after being left out of the winter white-ball squads, but began to take his second chance almost immediately.

He had Ireland opener Paul Stirling caught at short mid-wicket from the fourth ball of the match and took three more wickets in his first four overs.

His first four wickets came in his trademark style as he pushed the ball full in search of swing and found the edges of Gareth Delany and Andrew Balbirnie, and had Lorcan Tucker trapped lbw.

The fifth came when last man Craig Young skied a catch to give him a first England five-wicket haul at the 75th attempt.

He may have missed out last summer but more impressive performances could see him make England's T20 World Cup squads for the tournaments scheduled for 2021 and 2022.

More to follow.