England clinch T20 series win over Ireland 

Ireland's total of 154 for eight was never likely to be enough in Malahide

Jordan Cox helped England to victory over Malahide in Malahide. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA

Jordan Cox celebrated his return to the England side with a dominant half-century in a series-clinching victory over Ireland in Malahide.

Cox, back in an England XI for the first time since last November, made the most of a rare opportunity as his 55 carried the visitors to a six-wicket win in the third T20 and a 2-0 triumph overall.

The 24-year-old, who had a previous best of 22 in five white-ball internationals, finished as the top run-scorer in this summer’s Hundred and carried that form over after getting the nod ahead of Will Jacks.

Despite jarring his knee while taking a catch in the first innings, Cox looked in rude health as he thrashed four sixes and four fours in a flashy 35-ball stay.

Ireland’s 154 for eight was never likely to pose too much of a hurdle to a team who comfortably chased 197 in Wednesday’s opening game but the target could have been considerably slimmer.

Just over a third of Ireland’s runs came off rookie England seamer Sonny Baker, whose hopes of banishing memories of a difficult ODI debut against South Africa ended in further frustration.

He was thrashed for 52 in four wicketless overs, conspicuously costly figures in a card that saw Jamie Overton take two for 17 and Adil Rashid pick up three for 29.

England lost Jos Buttler for a second ball duck, Curtis Campher plucking a wonderful one-handed catch millimetres off the ground, and saw captain Jacob Bethell follow for 15 when he failed to get enough on a pull off Craig Young.

That meant an early chance for Cox to strut his stuff and he took full advantage of the fielding restrictions, lashing 22 from his first eight balls. That included two fierce sixes into the leg side, the first sailing out of the ground and the second almost following suit.