Ireland have lost their opening ODI international against England by six wickets in Southampton.
Opening the batting, Ireland reached 172 off 44.4 overs but the World Cup winners, led home by Dubliner Eoin Morgan, reached 174 with 22.1 overs remaining.
Sam Billings and Morgan's unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 96 took England to victory with six wickets in hand.
Billings made an ODI-best 67 off 54 balls and Morgan finished with 36 as England moved 1-0 up in the series.
Debutant Curtis Campher scored 59 not out for the visitors but England, despite the loss of four wickets for 78 in the 14th over, came home with plenty to spare.
RELIVE ENGLAND v IRELAND OVER-BY-OVER ACTION
England won the toss on a bright sunny afternoon with captain Morgan deciding to put Ireland, who left out William Porterfield, Boyd Rankin and Josh Little out, in to bat.
Head coach Graham Ford gave ODI debuts to Harry Tector and all-rounder Campher, a former South African Under-19 international.
Before play began the two teams took a knee in a show of solidarity against racism, and to show their united support for diversity and inclusion across cricket.
The ODI was the first match of the new Cricket World Cup Super League, which marks the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League, part of the qualification process for the 2023 World Cup.
England struck in the first over with opener Paul Stirling caught by Morgan off the bowling of left-arm seamer Willey.
Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie didn't last much longer, becoming Willey’s second victim, caught behind with Ireland on 7 for 2 in only the third over, a wicket which brough 20-year-old Harry Tector to the crease.
Gareth Delaney, in his third ODI, took a fancy to the bowling of Saqid Mahmood, moving quickly to 22 before Tector, who had faced only six deliveries, dragged a ball from Mahmood on to his stumps.
He departed without scoring as the Irish top order got themselves in all sorts of trouble. With Tector’s dismissal Ireland were 28 for 3 in only the sixth over.
Delaney went in the next over, becoming Willey’s third victim, caught at backward point by Tom Banton without adding to his total and Ireland were in real trouble at 28 for 4.
That quickly became 28 for 5 when Lorcan Tucker was caught in front off his first ball and after review, was given lbw, handing Willey his fourth wicket in the seventh over.
Campher, a South African-born all-rounder who qualifies for Ireland through his mother's passport, showed admirable fortitude on his first international outing, surviving a hat-trick ball before going on to share stands of 51 and 66 with Kevin O'Brien and Andy McBrine.
O’Brien perished on 22 off the bowling of spinner Adil Rashid, caught at long off by Willey with Ireland at that stage on 79 for 6 in the 21st over.
Simi Singh lasted four deliveries before he attempted a risky single and was run out for naught with Ireland failing to add to their score.
Campher and Andy McBrine took Ireland past three figures with the debutant making a well-deserved half century off 103 deliveries, which included four fours.
McBrine made 40 off 48 deliveries before he was caught at square leg by Billings off Tom Curran, which saw Ireland on 145 for 8 in the 38th over, a partnership of 66 runs.
Barry McCarthy (3) and Craig Young (11) and an unbeaten by 59 by Campher took Ireland to 172 all out in the 45th over with Willey eventually taking five wickets with Young’s dismissal.
England lost an early wicket in reply with McBrine trapping Jonny Bairstow lbw for two, given after review with the hosts on 12-1 in the third over, while fellow opener Jason Roy perished on 24, trapped in front by Young to reduced Morgan’s side to 34 for 2 by the sixth.
James Vince was determined to lead the attack on Ireland, but he was Young’s second wicket, caught behind by Lorcan Tucker for 25 with England wobbling a little on 59 for 3 in the 10th over.
And Campher then got his first ODI wicket as Tom Banton skied one to Tucker for 11 and England were suddenly on 78 for 4.
However, Billings and Morgan eased England home in the evening sunshine, the former Ireland player wrapping up the result with a six.
The second game of the series is on Saturday, also a day/night game starting at 2pm at Southampton.
