Some 1,500 people made the journey from Ireland to Lord’s for yesterday’s one-day international against England, and most of them would have come with alternative plans in case of an early finish.

England’s new-look one-day international side survived a nervy batting display and a dangerous cameo from their Bangalore conqueror Kevin O’Brien to beat Ireland by 11 runs in the RSA Challenge at Clontarf this afternoon.

IRISH cricket star Eoin Morgan has been catapulted into the sport’s megastar bracket with a €150,000 deal to join the 2010 Indian Premier League.