George Scrimshaw endures nightmare England debut as Zak Crawley’s second-string side secure underwhelming 48-run win over Ireland at Trent Bridge ahead of the World Cup

• Zak Crawley marshalled a second-string England side to 48-run win over Ireland 
• George Scrimshaw endured a nightmare start to his England debut 
• Rehan Ahmed made his best limited-overs international figures at Trent Bridge

George Scrimshaw endured a nightmare start to his international debut as experimental England began and finished badly with the ball in a 48-run win over Ireland at Trent Bridge.

Beanpole fast bowler Scrimshaw, the first Derbyshire player to feature for England since Dominic Cork 21 years ago, was picked for his ability to produce speeds close to 90 miles per hour but operated at around 82 during a torrid new-ball spell that included him sending down six no-balls and a wide inside his first two overs.

The 25-year-old was mercilessly treated by Ireland’s Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbirnie during an opening stand of 46, but after gifting half a dozen free hits, things began to turn around for the over-awed new cap when he struck with his 12th legitimate ball: Balbirnie edging low to Ben Duckett at slip.

Scrimshaw’s figures at that stage of 2-0-35-1 threatened to gain him notoriety via a place amongst the worst analyses in international history and the depth of on-field empathy for his plight was highlighted when pats on the back for Balbirnie’s dismissal came not only from a posse of team-mates but Australian umpire Rod Tucker.

He then went for just a single in his next over and his nerves appeared to be easing when he returned from the pavilion end to have Lorcan Tucker brilliantly held by a tumbling Duckett at midwicket. He finished with three for 66 when last man Josh Little picked out long on.

George Scrimshaw endured a nightmare start to his England debut as the hosts beat Ireland 

Zak Crawley said he was ‘impressed’ with the way Scrimshaw bounced back during the win

‘I was so impressed with how George Scrimshaw bounced back, he showed a lot of character,’ said Zak Crawley, England’s 36th ODI captain, leading the team with the 15 men bound for the World Cup next week resting.

‘I wanted to give him another over after a tough start and give him a chance. You’ve got to keep backing people to do their jobs.’

When Matthew Potts made it two wickets in two balls by snaking the first delivery of the fifth over through the defence of Ireland captain Stirling, momentum was with England.

It remained so throughout a 10-over spell from Leicestershire leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed that reaped figures of 10-0-54-4, his best for England outside of Test cricket. The catching was excellent too, typified by a running, overhead effort from Will Jacks, who had earlier struck 94 in a total of 334 for eight.

Unable to cope with Ahmed’s googly, Ireland had slumped to 157 for seven but England’s worst period of the match followed as Barry McCarthy, Craig Young and Little – Ireland’s numbers nine, 10 and 11 – all hit career-best scores to delay the inevitable.

In contrast to Scrimshaw, Sam Hain moved effortlessly onto the biggest stage, having waited until the age of 28 to show the qualities that place him second only to Indian batter Ruturaj Gaikwad in terms of one-day average (57.96) in the history of the game.

The chance to become only England’s third centurion on debut behind Dennis Amiss and Michael Lumb eluded him, however, when he skied one in the final over of the innings and had to settle for a 84-ball 89.

Leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed got his best figures for the England team outside of Test cricket 

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