England v Ireland: Live Commentary

Mad for Chelsea:
Morning all, good start by England, rattling along at close to 7 runs per over, though Strauss has fallen. Pietersen has 59, England 110-1 at drinks after 16.

-Strauss was bowled for 34 on his 34th birthday. I think that it was destiny.

-Kevin Pietersen caught for 59 off 50 balls. He attempted to play a reverse swing shot, but it went straight up in the air to the wicket keeper. We are now at 111-2.

We are now 114-2 off 18 overs. Trott came in at three and Bell at four. Trott is going well at 17 off 17 balls

cool fred 8)

20 overs gone and the run rate is at 6.10 (just over a run every ball). 122-2 with Trott on 23 and Bell now on 2

6.10 an over is reasonable

In the last over Trott played a similar shot to the one that got pietersen out, but got lucky as it went further behind the keeper. Only having taken four off the over, the run rate is now down to six. Trott and Bell don't look like hitting many boundaries at the moment.

Earlier in the match Pieterson hit a huge six. 87m and the 72nd six of the tournement

The run rate keeps decreasing now our two starters have gone -now at 5.91. In comparison Sri Lanka ended yesterday at about 9.1 and Kenya at 2 or 3. This rate will get us to 295, les than the previous score of 338 against India. We should be looking for more against Ireland

Now at 130-2. Trott 27(30), Bell 6(15)

Trott is too patient for this format, surprised they dropped Ravi.

Better over just gone. A four and 2 singles for Trott and just 2 singles for bell. the run rate now back up to 6, but the run rate for the last five overs is just 4.8

Awful fielding from Ireland. Bell desperate for a 2, but trott stayed at his end. Both were at one end but the Irish sent the ball there first. This gave trott enough time to reach the other end for the second run.

A hopeful call from the Irish keeper on the penultimate ball of the over, but Trott was well in the crease.

25 overs gone, England 144-2 with a run rate now down at 5.76. Trott has 34 from 38 balls and Bell now with 13 from 25.

Too many singles and not enough boundaries for me. Despite their mishap earlier on the Irish fielders are well positioned, but they have no slips.

A big shot from Bell, chipping mid-on for a four. That makes it 13 4's and 3 6's in this innings. Just as I was saying not enough big shots! This takes us to 150 runs off just over 25 overs. Still on for 300 runs in my opinion, as bell and trott are strating to build a big partnership

Another four off the last over- this time coming from Jonothan Trott. After 27 overs we sit at 159-2 (a run rate of 5.89) Trott is now approaching a half century

Cody Rhodes bowling the 28th over for Ireland giving away just three runs

A lovely WBA banner in the crowd.

Bell just hit a six - 76m (not huge though, just over the boundary. Followed up with a clip around the wicket keeper for a cheap single.

Now using the chat box for anyone who is following this

Bell hits a good shot boucing just short of the midwicket boundary. Ed Joyce went for the ball but couldn't stop it. Good 4, as bell is really getting into the swing of things if you pardon the pun

Another 4 for Jonothan Trott takes him to 52 off 55 balls with five 4s- his 8th ODI half century

England 198-2 off 33 overs and a run rate of 6.00 (puts England well on for 300 runs). Ian Bell 43(54), Jonothan Trott 57(57) after another 4 on the last ball of the over.

Ian Bell takes the tally to 18 fours as he just pushes one to the boundary. He should reach a half century within the next few balls. Trott is yet to pass Pieterson as England's top scorer of the innings still with 57(57)

Trott hits a single to go to 58

Ian Bell runs a double to achieve his 18th ODI half century. Run rate now stands over 6

Currently 215-2 off 36 overs. That works out at just over six runs per over

Ian Bell 54(64) - 3 fours, 1 six

Jonothan Trott has now accumulated 1000 ODI runs, now at 65(69) in this test

Another powerful drive from Bell goes all the way for a four. England 224-2

...and again. Bell is playing a number of beautiful strokes at the moment and is now racing past the score of Jonothan Trott

38 overs gone.

England's run rate is now at 6.16, which means we are getting closer to the score against India.

Bell: 68(72) Trott 71(75)
240-2 off 39 overs

The Irish keeper drops a ball from a fast bowler - sending it out for a four

The run rate is starting to go up rapidly, now at 6.31

the partnership reaches 150

there are now only 9 overs to go with the rate at 6.51. A very high shot from Bell looks dangerous, but it isnt close enough to any of the Irish bowlers to cause trouble

274-2 - 23 fours and 4 sixes from the innings so far. The run rate off the last four overs is 10.25 showing a pick up of pace.

It took Trott just 21 innings to bring about his 1000th ODI run. only Viv Richards and Kevin Pieterson have achieved this before for England

Bell and Trott seems to be calming down - a good over for Ireland. They have 81 and 85 respectively now.

Bell has been caught for 81. England at 278-3.

Unlucky reall. It was a good driven shot, but it was a case of right place at the right time for the fielder who had to dive to the ball for the catch

Paul Collingwood is out next

Only 7 overs remain for England and a run rate of 6.5

Collingwood has to perform well, as he is fighting for his place in the team at the moment. Ravi Bopara is in the wings looking to take the place

Collingwood score 30(23) against Netherlands and 1(5) against India, so he desperately needs a good score today

Collingwood has already passed the score he achieved against India off just 2 balls

10 runs off the 44th over. Trott 92(89) and Collingwood 2(2) leave the whole team at 288-3 with 36 balls remaining

Jonathon Trott is bowled by Mooney for 92 off 92 balls

England now at 288-4

Matt Prior comes in

Overall Batting Stats... so far

Andrew Strauss - 34 (37)
Kevin Pieterson - 59 (50)
Jonathon Trott - 92 (92)
Ian Bell - 81 (86)
Paul Collingwood - 3 (3)
Matt Prior - 4 (2)

England end the 46th over 299-5. A good bowl from Johnston goes straight down the wicket as Prior tries to hit square on the offside. He steps out of the way, but misses the ball and knocks the bails straight off. Matt Prior out for 6

In comes the next batsman Tim Bresnan.

Irish fielders keep fumbling the ball almost giving fours away on the two next balls.

Collingwood hits a 96m six, one metre short of the furthest of the tournement (by Shane Watson). The run rate is 6.64

England took 13 off the last over. Collingwood now at 16(10) and England at 312-5 after 46.5 overs.

Collingwood made another huge hit on the last ball of the 47th over, but its caught. He made 16 runs and England are now 312-6. 3 overs to go

Left handed Michael Yardy comes in at number 8. He wont get a lot to do in the final 3 overs