Paul Collingwood has hailed England's desire after opponents Ireland fell just short of performing a giant-killing act in Belfast.
Skipper happy with attitude as England escape with narrowest of wins
Paul Collingwood has hailed England's desire after opponents Ireland fell just short of performing a giant-killing act in Belfast.
The rain-affected one-day international at Stormont witnessed a late twist as former Ireland batsman Eoin Morgan, England's 12th man, palmed the ball back into play to prevent a six from Trent Johnston at long-on.
Had it been registered, Morgan's former colleagues would have required just three from the final ball for a one-wicket win.
Johnston duly dispatched Owais Shah delivery to the boundary but he and Kyle McCallan were so intent on watching the ball that they ended up running one short as they went to complete two.
In the event, therefore, England won by three runs.
They had earlier managed just 203-9 on a slow surface - one which came in for criticism from England's stand-in captain.
And yet somehow England managed to defend a revised total of 116 after persistent rain delayed Ireland's chase.
"It was a difficult position to be in and the fight we showed in the last 10 overs was excellent," said Collingwood.
"As international cricketers we don't come across pitches like that too often.
"A few things went against us today. It is pretty difficult to defend a target like that in 20 overs, with eight overs of powerplay.
"It was very soggy out there but thankfully we didn't get any injuries out there. I would have been very angry if we came off with any injuries."
Unbelievable
Morgan was on the field as a substitute for Graeme Swann and his speed of thought proved crucial.
"It was an unbelievable, very modern piece of fielding," Collingwood said. "He threw his body up, caught it and had the brains to throw it straight back down before he touched the floor.
"Things like that in Twenty20 cricket win you games.
"We do a fair bit of specific practice on that kind of thing and it's amazing that it does creep up now and again. Eoin managed to perfect it today."
Ireland needed just 30 runs from five overs with five wickets in hand when Collingwood introduced Shah.
However, the part-time spinner responded to the call with figures of three for 16.
"It was a gamble, simple as that," said Collingwood. "He doesn't bowl that often in one-day internationals but he did a fantastic job, bowled into the pitch, which was the important thing to do with it gripping."
Debutant Joe Denly (67) produced England's only innings of real note with Collingwood simply happy to be leaving Belfast with a win just four days after their Ashes success.
"It was obviously a quick turnaround after the Ashes, let's be fair, so we are just thankful we managed to get the win," he acknowledged.
"It is obviously very, very disappointing," Ireland captain William Porterfield said of the defeat, which came after his side were 64-2 in the ninth over.
"We should have won from that position - you should always win from that kind of position and that is what hurts."
