Ireland's dream of pulling off one of the biggest shocks in the history of test cricket was shattered as they collapsed to 38 all out to lose by 143 runs to England at Lord's.
England seam bowler Stuart Broad celebrates a wicket. Photo: Photosport
Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad ruthlessly exploited the murky conditions to take all 10 wickets in the space of 15.4 overs on Saturday (NZ time) as Ireland posted the lowest-ever total at the home of cricket.
Ireland made a dream start when Stuart Thompson polished off England's second innings with the first ball of the day, clean bowling Olly Stone to dismiss the hosts for 303 and leave themselves two days to knock off 182 runs.
After a rain delay and with the lights required in the gloom, Ireland began the chase in encouraging fashion, reaching 11 without loss, but the wheels fell off in spectacular fashion as Woakes and Broad ripped them apart in little more than an hour.
Woakes applied the knockout blow, toppling Tim Murtagh's leg stump to finish with the spectacular figures of six wickets for 17 while Broad took four for 19.
It was a shambolic end to what had been a fantastic effort by William Porterfield's gallant side in only Ireland's third test match and their first versus England.
They had bowled England out for 85 before lunch on the opening day of the four-day test on Wednesday and induced another collapse in the home ranks in sweltering heat on Thursday, putting them in sight of a maiden test victory.
In the end, however, 182 in conditions tailor-made for seam bowling, proved way beyond their skillset as England successfully defended their lowest total ever at Lord's.
England's first-innings total of 85 was the lowest to win a Test for 112 years.
However, the home side was indebted to the class of Broad and Woakes and a superb second-innings 92 from nightwatchman Jack Leach - who batted at number 11 first time round - to disguise a fragile batting order.
That line-up will face a sterner test next week when the Ashes series against traditional rivals Australia starts next week at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
"We knew 180 odd was defendable but we didn't see 38 all out coming our way," Broad said.
Ireland avoided the ignominy of breaking the record for the lowest test score which is still held by New Zealand who were skittled for 26 against England in 1955.
"We put ourselves in a position to win the game -- that's why we're so gutted up there," said a deflated Porterfield, whose dismissal signalled the start of the collapse.
"We knew it would be tough with the lights on and drizzle in the air. But we had to dig deep and get through that. Fair play to the two lads to how they bowled -- they made it difficult."
- Reuters