Cricket News: England win 1st ODI match played post corona lockdown

David Willey and Sam Billings guided world champions England to a six-wicket win over Ireland at Southampton in the first One-Day International to take a 1-0 lead in 3-match ODI series. Left-arm pacer David Willey playing his first ODI since being left out of England's World Cup-winning squad for Jofra Archer took a career-best 5-30 as Ireland were dismissed for a modest 172 in a match that marked the return of white-ball cricket from the coronavirus lockdown. 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. England got off to a shaly start as at one stage they were tottering at 78 for 4. Sam Billings, a late injury replacement for Kent team-mate Joe Denly, made 67 not out including 11 fours at better than a run-a-ball. Together with World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan, a former Ireland batsman, he shared an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 96. The win gives England 10 points in their first game of the newly formed World Cup Super League.