Ireland shock India again, seal first ever T20I series win over world champions |: Cricket News:
Ireland scripted one of the biggest victories in their cricketing history on Sunday, beating reigning T20 World Cup champions India by a run in the second T20I to complete a shock 2-0 series sweep at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont.The victory marked Ireland’s first ever bilateral series win against India and ended the visitors’ remarkable run of 16 consecutive T20I series victories, a streak that will extend to 2023. Despite being without five regular first-choice players, Lorcan Tucker’s side produced two disciplined performances to beat the Asian giants. India’s chase of 155 was held together by Tilak Varma, whose fifty kept the contest alive until the closing stages. However, Jai Moondra’s blistering opening spell, followed by composed death bowling from the Irish attack, proved decisive as the hosts successfully defended a modest total.Ireland’s bowling unit once again stood out throughout the series, with Moondra and Matthew Hollard claiming three wickets each in the second game. For India, the defeat exposed familiar issues, particularly their struggles against left-arm pace and adapting to the conditions outside the IPL.The chase broke up almost immediately. Moondra strikes twice in his opening to remove both Sanju Samson and: Abhishek Sharma for first-ball ducks. Samson, trapped lbw after missing a flick on a skiddy delivery. Two balls later, Abhishek miscued a short ball and was caught by third man.India’s troubles worsened when captain Shreyas Iyer Cut one back to his stumps at Moondra after scoring 10. Ishan Kishan tried to rebuild with Tilak Varma, but confusion between the wickets resulted in 12 runs out. With the scoreboard reading 39 for 4 in the Powerplay, India lost four wickets in the first six overs for only the 13th time in T20I history.Varma responded with composure, finding successive boundaries off Moondra through the leg side before sharing a 32-run partnership with Axar Patel to keep the innings going. A brief rain stoppage interrupted play, but the pair ensured that India stayed in the contest despite the required rate continuing to rise.Ireland struck again after the restart when Matthew Hollard dismissed Axar Patel. Attempting to guide the ball, Axar instead found Lorcan Tucker, who completed a brilliant diving one-handed catch to his left behind the stumps.Shivam Dube briefly injected momentum with a pair of boundaries before getting out to deep square leg from Matthew Humphreys. Varma, on the other hand, continued to anchor the innings and reached his half-century in 45 balls by launching the first six of India’s innings, sending Hollard to deep mid-wicket.His stay, however, ended soon after. Looking to clear the infield again, Varma mistimed a long drive to extra cover, while debutant Suryansh Shedge soon followed after failing to clear a bigger boundary and was caught at deep mid-wicket.Harshit Rana then launched the late onslaught to keep India’s hopes alive. He edged Moondra over the score for four before clearing long-on with a six to drag the equation to 20 needed from the end. Rana added another boundary from a free hit after the ball eluded the wicketkeeper, while Harry Tector conceded two wides to raise India’s hopes.However, Tector held his nerve when it mattered most, prompting Rana to linger. Prince Yadav hit a six off the last delivery, but India eventually finished at 153 for 9, falling well short of a run.Earlier, Ireland recovered from a shaky start to post 154 for 8 after being asked to bat first. Harry Tector anchored the innings with 53, while Ben Calitz contributed a valuable 37. Debutant Prince Yadav impressed with figures of 3 for 22, and Shivam Dube took 2 for 25.Brief Scores: Ireland 154/8 in 20 overs (Harry Tector 53, Ben Calitz 37; Prince Yadav 3-22, Shivam Dube 2-25) beat India 153/9 in 20 overs (Tilak Varma 55, Harshit Rana 21; Matthew Hollard 3-26 runs by Matthew Hollard 3-26).
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