Ireland beat India by 34 runs to take 1-0 lead in series
India were wrapped up for 148 in the chase of 183
Matthew Hollar was adjudged 'Player of the Match for his three wicket haul
Ireland stunned India with an inspired performance to win the first T20I by 34 runs at Stormont Cricket Ground, Belfast, on Friday, June 26. It marked the first time the Irish side had defeated India in international cricket, and the result came in Shreyas Iyer's first match as India's captain following their successful World Cup campaign at home.
While India were the superior team on paper, Ireland showed the zeal that could help you topple any stronger opposition in a dynamic format such as T20s.
After being invited to bat first, Ireland's top order was rattled by the Indian pace attack, who then reeled at 30/3 in 3.4 overs. Just as it looked like the visitors were running away with the match, skipper Lorcan Tucker forged a timely 64-run stand with Gareth Delany to stabilize the innings.
Tucker slammed a brisk half-century of just 36 balls to get their team out of a precarious position towards a decent total, and was well-complemented by Gareth Delany's 32-ball 49.
Prasidh Krishna had a poor day with the ball as the Irish batter relished his hit-the-deck bowling and picked his slower balls well. Prasidh went for a whopping 57 runs off his quota of four overs including a 27-run over.
At the end, Ireland put up a decent 182 runs on a pitch that had some help for the bowlers, courtesy to some wayward bowling for Indian bowlers at the death.
In reply, India got off to a fiery start and were 60/2 after five overs on the back of a fiery 20-ball 49 from Abhishek Sharma. However, the middle-order couldn't capitalize on the start and kept losing wickets at regular intervals to eventually get bundled at 148/10 in 18.5 overs and lose the match by 34 runs.
Debutant pacer Jay Moondra and Matthew Hollard were the pick of the bowlers for Ireland, scalping 2 and 3 wickets respectively, and played a significant role in their team's momentous victory. Matthew Humphreys also shone with the ball and sent three Indian batters back in the hut.
With this win, Ireland have taken an unassailable 1-0 lead in the series and will aim to win their first-ever series against India on Sunday.
India Vs Ireland, 1st T20I: Toss Update
India won the toss and elected to bowl first against Ireland in Belfast
India Vs Ireland, 1st T20I: Playing XIs
Ireland (Playing XI): Tim Tector, Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker(w/c), Benjamin Calitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Liam McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys, Jai Moondra, Matthew Hollard
India (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson(w), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer(c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna
