CRICKET:THE ANNEXING of another Irish cricket talent to England's cause took a step closer yesterday as Boyd Rankin impressed on his debut for the England Lions in their 135-run victory over Sri Lanka A at Northampton.
The 6ft 8in opening bowler from Bready in Co Tyrone was only brought into the squad on Monday night after Middlesex’s Steven Finn was called up to the England side ahead of the fourth Test against India, which starts at The Oval tomorrow.
Rankin went straight into the side for the third and deciding one-day game and made four not out as the Lions racked up 282 for nine off their 50 overs.
Bowling first change, he then struck twice in his second over when he caught and bowled Sri Lankan top-scorer Sachithra Serasinghe for 35 before having Kushal Perera caught behind for a duck two deliveries later.
He finished with figures of two for 19 from the six overs he bowled.
Rankin remains eligible to play for Ireland until he is capped in the full England side, whom he is expected to line up against in the RSA One-Day Challenge at Clontarf tomorrow week.
