Ireland remain with a very good chance of victory after the second day's play of their historic Test with England at Lord's.
After a fruitful afternoon with the ball for the visitors, England reached the close of play on 303/9 and with a lead of 181 runs.
England began the day with a blank slate on 0/0, looking for a better showing than their first innings capitulation which garnered just 85 runs.
Jack Leach was sent out as night-watchman last night, and it was thought the Somerset spinner would be something of a sacrificial lamb. Instead it's Leach's innings on which England's hopes for victory hang.
When Rory Burns went for just 6 to a Boyd Rankin ball, Ireland could have been forgiven for thinking lightning was about to strike twice at the home of cricket. However, Leach and debutant Jason Roy got comfortable in each other's company, putting on a second-wicket stand of 145 runs.
However, when Stuart Thompson's inswinger sent Roy's stumps flying, the sky began to brighten for Ireland.
Shortly afterwards, Leach was caught at second slip by Mark Adair from a Tim Murtagh ball 8-runs shy of his century. His replacement at the crease Joe Denly would trouble the scoreboard for just 10-runs.
Any English hopes that Johnny Bairstow would steady the ship were quickly dashed by Mark Adair, who sent the Yorkshireman back to the pavilion lbw with his second duck of the match.
Moeen Ali made just 9 before a superb catch from Gary Wilson - again from the bowling of Adair - saw Joe Root go for 31 and England found themselves on 239 for 7.
What was Root thinking❓@nassercricket has a rant about England's attacking mindset in Test cricket after the captain falls.
Watch live now on Sky Sports Cricket or follow online here: https://t.co/XhxEf3lp21 pic.twitter.com/gGYtMdZsuw— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 25, 2019
Just 9 more runs were added before Chris Woakes became Adair's third victim of the afternoon.
A ninth-wicket stand of 45 from Sam Curran and Stuart Broad helped England regain their equilibrium before Curran - full of confidence - sent a third attempt for 6 down the throat of James McCollum off the bowling of Thompson.
10 more runs were added - all by Broad - before the umpires decided to take the players off with light dwindling and storms threatened over the home of cricket.
England will resume in the morning with Broad and Olly Stone at the crease, and hoping to give Ireland something more to think about than 181 for victory.
But with two full days left to play at Lord's, Ireland have every right to feel confident that a historic first Test with England can turn into a first win.
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