Ahmed misses out but England easily beat Ireland in T20

REHAN Ahmed missed out with the bat and ball as England chased down 197 in their first T20 against Ireland to hand Jacob Bethell a winning start to his record-breaking captaincy.

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Leicestershire all-rounder Ahmed, right, who has been tipped to make the Ashes squad after his superb form this season, only made eight batting at four and bowled just the one over without taking a wicket in Ireland's innings.

Ahmed, in his first England appearance of the year and having previously only batted at eight or nine, cleared the ropes once.

But it was an unsatisfying knock, with a fortunate reprieve on a low catch before he lost his middle stump charging Gareth Delany.