It was a wet, cold and windy day in Malahide, Ireland, just the kind you don’t want when a cricket match is to be played. India won by two runs by DLS method to take a 1-0 lead over the hosts in the three T20Is series. But their bigger gain was the assuring return of pacers Jasprit Bumrah, and also Prasidh Krishna, who was making his debut.
Back issues had kept both away from the game for nearly a year.
On Friday, however, both made a successful return. Bumrah took 2 for 24. Both his wickets came in the first over of the match. Prasidh got 2 for 32.
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An allround bowling performance by India meant Ravi Bishnoi also picked up two, and Ireland were restricted to a modest 139 for seven. Even that would not have been possible without No. 8 Barry McCarthy's unbeaten 51 and No. 5 Curtis Campher’s 39.
India got to 47 for two in 6.5 overs when rain stopped play. They were ahead of Ireland by two runs in DLS par score and that decided the result when the match was called off.
Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (24; 23b) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (19 not out) added 46 runs in 6.2 overs.
Craig Young then got rid of Jaiswal. And then he got Tilak Varma out first ball. But Gaikwad had steered the innings to safety, knowing that DLS could come into play.
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Commenting on his feelings about his debut and performance, Prasidh said, "I have been with this group for a long time now, so didn't really feel much like a debut."
On the weather conditions, he said, "The wind was blowing. There was cold out there. So it was tough for the bowlers to get warmed up and get into the rhythm straightaway. But it was good. I enjoyed coming out here."
"I could have bowled better, definitely," Prasidh added. "Could have finished off a little better. But then as a team, we had set out a plan to do a few things and I think we were there for the most part of it. For me, personally, it's great to be running in, bowling out there for the country."
