Jordan celebrates recall as he helps England win series

JORDAN Cox celebrated his return to the England side with a dominant half-century in a series-clinching victory over Ireland in Malahide.

- By RORY DOLLARD

Cox, back in an England XI for the first time since last November, made the most of a rare opportunity as his 55 carried the visitors to a six-wicket win in the third T20 and a 2-0 triumph overall.

The 24-year-old, who had a previous best of 22 in five white-ball internationals, finished as the top run-scorer in this summer's Hundred and carried that form over after getting the nod ahead of Will Jacks.

Despite jarring his knee while taking a catch in the first innings, Cox looked in rude health as he thrashed four sixes and four fours in a flashy 35-ball stay.

Ireland’s 154 for eight was never likely to pose too much of a hurdle to a team who comfortably chased 197 in Wednesday's opening game but the target could have been considerably slimmer.

Just over a third of Ireland’s runs came off rookie England seamer Sonny Baker, whose hopes of banishing memories of a difficult ODI debut against South Africa ended in further frustration.