<p class="title">Tom Curran and Ben Foakes put together an unbeaten 98-run partnership to help England beat Ireland by four wickets in a one-off one-dayer here on Friday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Chasing 199 to win, England slipped to 101 for six as Ireland's 19-year-old debutant bowler Josh Little made the most of seaming conditions to claim 4/45.</p>.<p class="bodytext">However, wicketkeeper-batsman Foakes scored an unbeaten 61 and all-rounder Curran added 47 not out to give the top-ranked one-day side a scrappy victory.</p>.<p class="bodytext">England had won the toss and elected to bowl after the match was put back by two hours and reduced to 45 overs per side amid concerns over a soggy outfield after overnight rain.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Ireland captain William Porterfield and Paul Stirling made a steady start and were 46 without loss at the end of 10 overs.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But when they had reached 55, England quick Curran lured Stirling (33) into chipping the ball to a diving Jofra Archer at mid-on.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Seamer Liam Plunkett removed Porterfield (17) and Lorcan Tucker (seven), before Curran added a second of his own when Joe Denly caught the experienced Kevin O'Brien (four) at backward point.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The hosts were 111/6 but debutant Mark Adair hinted at a fightback as he smashed two sixes off Curran.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Archer, who conceded 21 runs off his first spell of four overs on his ODI debut, returned to the attack to remove Adair with a 90 mph ball that went clean through the batsman and uprooted the off stump.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Plunkett, who finished as England's standout bowler with 4/35, and Curran picked apart the Ireland lower order as the hosts were all out with 11 balls to play.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"At certain stages we knew it would be challenging, but the bowlers did a great job," England captain Eoin Morgan said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">England next travel to Cardiff for a one-off Twenty20 against Pakistan on Sunday, before the two teams play a five-match ODI series starting Wednesday. </p>.<p class="ListBody"><span class="bold">Brief scores:</span> Ireland: 198 all out in 43.1 overs (Paul Stirling 33, Andy Balbirnie 29; Tom Curran 3-35, Liam Plunkett 4-35) lt to England: 199/6 in 42 overs (Ben Foakes 61 not out, Tom Curran 47 not out; Joshua Little 4-54). </p>
<p class="title">Tom Curran and Ben Foakes put together an unbeaten 98-run partnership to help England beat Ireland by four wickets in a one-off one-dayer here on Friday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Chasing 199 to win, England slipped to 101 for six as Ireland's 19-year-old debutant bowler Josh Little made the most of seaming conditions to claim 4/45.</p>.<p class="bodytext">However, wicketkeeper-batsman Foakes scored an unbeaten 61 and all-rounder Curran added 47 not out to give the top-ranked one-day side a scrappy victory.</p>.<p class="bodytext">England had won the toss and elected to bowl after the match was put back by two hours and reduced to 45 overs per side amid concerns over a soggy outfield after overnight rain.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Ireland captain William Porterfield and Paul Stirling made a steady start and were 46 without loss at the end of 10 overs.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But when they had reached 55, England quick Curran lured Stirling (33) into chipping the ball to a diving Jofra Archer at mid-on.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Seamer Liam Plunkett removed Porterfield (17) and Lorcan Tucker (seven), before Curran added a second of his own when Joe Denly caught the experienced Kevin O'Brien (four) at backward point.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The hosts were 111/6 but debutant Mark Adair hinted at a fightback as he smashed two sixes off Curran.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Archer, who conceded 21 runs off his first spell of four overs on his ODI debut, returned to the attack to remove Adair with a 90 mph ball that went clean through the batsman and uprooted the off stump.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Plunkett, who finished as England's standout bowler with 4/35, and Curran picked apart the Ireland lower order as the hosts were all out with 11 balls to play.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"At certain stages we knew it would be challenging, but the bowlers did a great job," England captain Eoin Morgan said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">England next travel to Cardiff for a one-off Twenty20 against Pakistan on Sunday, before the two teams play a five-match ODI series starting Wednesday. </p>.<p class="ListBody"><span class="bold">Brief scores:</span> Ireland: 198 all out in 43.1 overs (Paul Stirling 33, Andy Balbirnie 29; Tom Curran 3-35, Liam Plunkett 4-35) lt to England: 199/6 in 42 overs (Ben Foakes 61 not out, Tom Curran 47 not out; Joshua Little 4-54). </p>