After starting the two-match home T20I series against the reigning T20 World Cup champions India with a stunning 34-run win, Ireland secured the series with another one-run thrilling victory in the series decider last Sunday (28 June).
Indian captain Shreyas Iyer chose to field first in the second game. While Ireland scored 154/8 in 20 overs, the visitors didn’t manage a strong start due to the fall of regular wickets, but still managed 153/9 at the end of the 20 overs.
How did India almost reach the target in the late drama?
After managing 10 runs for losing two wickets in the 18th over, India needed 34 runs to win with only two wickets in hand. While managing 14 runs in the 19th over, the visitors scored 18 runs in the final over with a loss of one wicket. India needed eight runs in the last two balls, and Harshit Rana was caught out at long on after scoring an invaluable 21 off 10 balls.
Prince Yadav faced Harry Tector on the final ball of the match, as the Indian cricketer was facing the first ball in international cricket and slammed a six on that delivery.
Tilak Varma scored half-century
Earlier, in the second innings, before the rain disturbed the game, India were struggling at 54/4 in eight overs. Both the Indian openers, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, were dismissed for golden ducks. Tilak Varma scored 55 off 46 balls with three fours and one six, while Shivam Dube (20) and Harshit Rana (21) were the only other Indian batters to manage 20+ scores in that innings.
Harry Tector and Ben Calitz played crucial knocks
In the first innings, Harry Tector scored 53 off 47 balls (four fours and one six), and Ben Calitz scored 37 off 23 balls (three fours and two sixes) played crucial innings, as the hosts managed the 150+ total. They had a 65-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Debutant Prince Yadav was the best Indian bowler in the match with the bowling figures of 4-0-22-3, while Arshdeep Singh (2/35) and Shivam Dube (2/25) also bagged two wickets each.
Irish debutants shone in T20I series
In the first game of the series, debutant Matt Hollard won the Player of the Match award. In the second game, Jai Moondra, who also made his international cricket debut in the series opener, claimed the Player of the Match award for his brilliant bowling performance of 4-0-32-3. Most importantly, he dismissed both the Indian openers in the first over of the second innings and also took the wicket of captain Shreyas Iyer in the very next over. He also got two wickets in the first game (2/25), and he also won the Player of the Series award. Meanwhile, Matt Hollard also got three wickets in the second T20I (4-0-26-3).
