Helped by an 89 off just 46 deliveries by opener Phil Salt, England won the opening T20 international beating Ireland by four wickets in Malahide.
Set 197 to win - Ireland's second-highest ever score at the north Dublin venue – the visitors knocked off the runs for the loss of six wickets to take an early lead in the three-match series ahead of game two on Friday.
Earlier in the day, new England captain Jacob Bethell, the youngest ever to skipper his country at 21, had guessed right at the toss and had no hesitation in putting Ireland into bat, hoping to exploit any moisture in the pitch after heavy overnight rain in the area.
The hosts however batted well to make 196 for 3 with Lorcan Tucker and Harry Tector contributing half centuries in a record third-wicket stand of 133 runs.
Ireland opted against giving left-arm spinner Ben Calitz his debut in green, welcoming back all-rounder Curtis Campher, but were shorn fast bowlers Mark Adair and Josh Little through injury.
The home side opened with captain Paul Stirling and Ross Adair who started confidently with the 50 partnership coming at the start of the seventh over when the skipper clubbed an Adil Rashid delivery back over the bowlers head for six.
Ireland lost their first wicket not long after as Adair who made 26 of 25 deliveries, skyed a Liam Dawson delivery to Salt at midwicket, with the home side 57 for one in the eighth over which brought the exciting Tector to the middle to join his captain.
Stirling perished after a brisk 34 off 22 deliveries which included four sixes as Rashid had his revenge when the opener was caught on the long on boundary with Ireland 67 for 2 in the ninth over
Wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker joined Tector in the middle after Stirling’s demise and the pair cracked on and took their side past 100 in the 12th over.
Tucker was given out lbw when he had reached 20 off the bowling of Rashid, but he immediately reviewed the decision which proved to be a correct one as the ball was missing his off stump.
Reprieved, Tucker (pictured below) and Tector got about the English attack with the latter making his half century off just 31 deliveries
Tucker also reached his 50 in the final over with a six down the ground in the final over as the pair combined for an Irish record third wicket T20 stand of 133 runs before he perished for a well-merited 55 off 36 deliveries.
Tector remained unbeaten on 61 with George Dockrell hitting the last ball of the innings for six, the only delivery he faced.
Needing 197 to win, England openers Salt and Jos Buttler, took a liking to the Irish bowling attack and the pair raced past the 50 partnership in only three overs.
Buttler reached 28th, but lost his wicket when, with the score on 74, he skyed a Matt Humphies delivery straight down the throat of Curtis Campher in the fifth over.
Salt went past 50 off just 20 balls and then appeared to be out on 51 when Tector had him caught in the deep by Campher, but Irish joy was short-lived as the delivery was deemed to be a no-ball full toss, above waist height.
Bethell fell for 24 off the bowling of Tector in the ninth over and Rehan Ahmed was bowled by Gareth Delany for eight.
Sam Curran made a brisk 27 off 14 deliveries before being caught in the deep by Dockrell off the bowling of Graham Hume, with the visitors now on the cusp of victory.
Salt went not long after for 89, Hume’s second wicket but Tom Banton (11) Will Jacks (one not out) and Jamie Overton (four not out) took England over the line with just over two overs to spare to win by four wickets as the sides now face into Games 2 and 3 on Friday and Sunday respectively, which are sold-out affairs in Malahide.
Ireland 196-3 (20 overs; H Tector 61*, L Tucker 55, P Stirling 34; A Rashid 1-36)
England 197-6 (17.4 overs; P Salt 89; G Hume 2-36, M Humphreys 2-44, G Delany 1-13)
