George Dobell, in ESPNcricinfo, 25 July 2019, where the title is “Ireland battle back after Leach falls short of nightwatchman hundred”
Jack Leach fell eight short of becoming the first England nightwatchman to make a Test century, but Ireland retained the upper hand of their maiden Test at Lord’s. Leach made 92, easily his highest first-class score, and by the time he left the pitch – bat raised to all corners of the ground – had converted England’s first-innings deficit of 122 into a lead of 60.
And while batting looked relatively straightforward while Leach and Jason Roy, who also recorded a maiden Test 50, were putting together a partnership of 145, the dismissal of Roy precipitated something of a collapse. England lost four wickets for 23 runs, renewing Ireland’s hopes of registering a maiden Test victory. By tea, England’s lead was 87 with five second-innings wickets in hand.
