The T20 World Cup was thrown wide open on Wednesday morning with Ireland's shock victory over England, and ex-England captain Eoin Morgan thinks it ranks among the best wins in Ireland's cricketing history.
Ireland won on the DLS scoring system, after the game was rained off at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Just last week, they took another major scalp when they defeated the West Indies comprehensively in Hobart.
After Wednesday's T20 World Cup action, Morgan was full of praise for captain Andrew Balbirdie and the Irish team.
T20 World Cup: Ex-England captain praises England after underdog win
Andrew Balbirdie hit 62 runs off 47 on Wednesday morning, as he played a crucial role in Ireland's five-run DLS win over tournament favourites England at the T20 World Cup.
It was an historic day, and one which was instantly compared to the victory over the same opposition at the 2011 ODI World Cup.
Eoin Morgan, who played for Ireland before moving to the English team and captaining them to the 2019 ODI World Cup, said that Wednesday's result was right up there with the very best in the history of the sport in Ireland.
"They've completely out-batted and out-bowled England!" 💪
Eoin Morgan reflects on a historic victory for Ireland at the T20 World Cup. pic.twitter.com/bHm8Sb2dJX— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 26, 2022
Morgan is on punditry duty for Sky Sports at the T20 World Cup and, in the aftermath of the game, he said:
You look back at the upsets that you talk about in Irish cricketing history, and this is right up there.
You think about the England team they're playing against today - it's one of the most talented and versatile England T20 teams we've ever put out. Hugely significant win for Andrew Balbirdie and his team, and today when you look at the whole picture, they've completely outbowled and outbatted England.
My word, they've been brilliant, they've really turned up on a huge occasion and sensing opportunity they've delivered.
The victory over England at the MCG will certainly be remembered fondly by Irish fans, and may yet come to stand alongside the 2011 win over England, or 2007's ODI World Cup win over Pakistan in the nation's memory.
Ireland now have three massive games ahead of them, as they will face Afghanistan, New Zealand, and tournament hosts Australia, with an outside chance of reaching the semi-finals. They will need even better performances than that produced against England, if they are to stand a chance of progressing.
SEE ALSO: English Cricket Fans Incensed As India Win Match With Highly Controversial 'Mankad'
