Published: Jul 20, 2016, 03:40 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 20, 2016, 03:40 PM (IST)
Ireland top-order batsman Ed Joyce has climbed 18 places to become No.24 in ICC ODI Rankings after scoring two unbeaten centuries in the recently concluded five-match One-Day International (ODI) series against Afghanistan. Joyce amassed a total of 339 runs at an average of 169.50, including a career-best 160* in the fifth ODI. The 37-year-old also scored 105* in the second ODI, and both his centuries helped Ireland draw the series 2-2, with the first match washed out due to rain. With such a huge leap, he also becomes the highest-ranked batsman from non-Test playing nation. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Ireland vs Afghanistan, 5th ODI match
After the first ODI was abandoned due to rain, Joyce showed his quality in the second match, scoring 62 of 87. His knock though, wasn’t enough as Ireland lost the match by 39 runs. But in the third fixture, he remained unbeaten on 105 and spearheaded Ireland’s chase of 237.
In the fourth game, he was controversially run-out for 12. Joyce had hit the ball towards extra-cover boundary and Mohammed Nabi put in a dive to save the boundary. The batsman presumed the ball had crossed the rope, and did not complete the third run. But in a shocking turn of events, ball was thrown back into the proceedings and Joyce was run-out.
But he didn’t let the disappointment get to him, as he scored a unbeaten 160 in the final ODI, which ultimately proved catalyst in Ireland’s 12-run win. The best fact about his knock was that he scored over 60% of his team’s runs, which is improbable to say the least.
