Ireland got the better of India once again in Belfast. Lorcan Tucker's men created history as they won a series against India for the first time.
India won the toss and invited Ireland to bat first in overcast conditions. The openers couldn't make much of a difference for Ireland. Captain Lorcan Tucker spent some time in the middle before throwing his start away.
Harry Tector and Benjamin Calitz dug deep and stitched a crucial 65-run stand off 43 balls for the fourth wicket. The latter played the aggressor's
role, smashing 37 off 23 balls, while the former anchored the innings and scored a sedate half-century. George Dockrell hit a couple of boundaries towards the back end of the innings as Ireland finished on 154/8.
In reply, India lost Sanju Samson off the first ball. Ishan Kishan was also dismissed for a golden duck. Ishan Kishan was catastrophically run-out for 12, while Shreyas Iyer made just 10 runs.
Tilak Varma tried to take the innings deep and received decent support from Axar Patel and Shivam Dube. However, the boundaries dried up, and Ireland's excellent fielding made India work hard for each run. After Axar and Dube couldn't capitalise on their starts. Tilak was dismissed for 55 off 46 balls, and things were looking done and dusted.
However, Harshit Rana played a defiant cameo to give India hopes of an improbable win. 20 runs were needed in the final over. Rana and Arshdeep Singh got nine runs off the first two balls. However, Harry Tector held his nerves at the back end of the innings to help Ireland snatch victory. Prince Yadav hit a six off the last ball as the hosts won by one run. They bagged the series 2-0.
Talking Points:
1. Openers fall for ducks as Jai Moondra makes the difference with the new ball
One of the biggest reasons for India's triumph at the T20 World Cup earlier this year was the fiery starts given by the top-order. However, on Sunday, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson failed to open their accounts, putting the Men in Blue under serious pressure. Jai Moondra also deserves credit for dismissing three out of the top four batters for India.
2. Tilak Varma fails to take India home
Tilak Varma would say to himself that he should have taken the team home after spending so much time in the middle and getting accustomed to the conditions. He anchored the innings well with his 55-run knock off 46 balls. However, he couldn't provide the finishing touch. The southpaw also didn't get the kind of support he would have hoped for.
3. Harry Tector-Benjamin Calitz' partnership proves to be match-winning
Harry Tector and Benjamin Calitz deserve a lot of credit for their gutsy fourth-wicket partnership in the first innings. They complemented each other brilliantly. Tector was happy playing second fiddle when Calitz was firing on all cylinders. Their 65-run stand helped Ireland get to a fighting total.
Who said what?
Shreyas Iyer - India Captain:
[On reflecting after the series defeat following a difficult start to his captaincy] It’s still definitely not a great series, honestly speaking, but kudos to them, the way they played. Ireland team, I think they showed the professionalism and definitely had a tremendous idea about how the wicket was going to play and the field work there was phenomenal. So a comprehensive win to them and congratulations. [On whether his team showed the cricket smarts, learning and adaptability he had spoken about after the first game] Absolutely. I feel the bowlers, they were phenomenal in terms of their executions today. But we fell a bit short in our batting. We were, we fell a bit short in terms of analyzing how the wicket is going to play and also converting singles into twos. I think they definitely outplayed us in that department. [On the debutants] Definitely, as I mentioned earlier, that he’s (Prince) got great experience in the IPL and he carries that momentum over here as well. He has his own set of ideas and plans when it comes down to the ball. But the attitude and approach which he had and also Suryansh, I mean it was his first game, but yeah, he’outside the leg-stump definitely learn from this. [Thank you for coming to Ireland and] Thank you so much. It’s an honor and a pleasure to be here.
Lorcan Tucker - Ireland Captain:
[On Ireland securing a historic series victory after backing up their win in the first match] I can’t quite believe it, but absolutely incredible. I think I challenged the lads the other day to show the world that that wasn’t a one-off, that we could do it again, and we were able to do it today. [On the team’s professionalism and commitment after the emotional high of Friday’s win] I think we were obviously on a massive high the other night, but I think I challenged the lads to try and, you know, fall down from those clouds, get back to the real world, and put in a performance, do their recovery yesterday. I think we rocked up with that same intent. I felt like we were professional, we were diligent in the work we did, and we showed that again today. [On the growing belief and attitude within this Ireland side] It felt like we were able to close the game out. I think we showed that good cricket can be simple cricket, and it doesn’t always have to be that complicated, and especially when you read the conditions well, that you can be effective and you can win games of cricket. [On the increased competition for places and the impact of the newer players] Yeah. Sometimes it feels like we play in the shadows of international cricket, but I think we will be front page news after this, and that will be so, it’s absolutely amazing. [On the performances of the less experienced players in the squad] We have a lot of lads there who have very few caps between them, but I think they just showed that they do the work in the background, they know their own games well. Even when they come to the big stage like this, they can show up and they can perform, and we can beat the world’s best. [On the outstanding support from the fans over the two-match series] Absolutely. I think I said it before the first game that we’re so lucky to have these games against India. I think they’re the most special, the crowd’s absolutely amazing, so very lucky to have it, and we’d love to have it again. [On whether this is the most exciting period in Irish cricket, with recent successes and opportunities across the game] Absolutely. Great time to be a professional cricketer in Ireland, and even for all those kids that came to watch today, watched on TV, we hope we’ve given them something to strive for.
Jai Moondra - Player of the Match and Series
[On winning the Player of the Series award after just two international matches] Still trying to sink in the feeling. I know it’s hard to describe in one word. It’s an amazing feeling playing against the best, testing yourself. So just doing the basic for longer, that was the plan. Credit to team members and management. Keep it simple. There are gonna be tough times, but keep calm and composed and do your thing. [On the setbacks he overcame] Well, everyone have ups and downs, so you just have to hang in there and keep going through that. Nothing more. [On how Ireland have made him feel] Well, they made feel it was like one of them, like nothing different from that. It was playing amazing, good environment, good people. So just doing the duty they have given to me. [On his mindset when bowling to Sanju Samson] Just keep it simple, do what you have been doing. It’s gonna be tough, little margin for error. So just keep what you have been doing and just stick to the plan. [On whether he ever imagined winning the Player of the Series award against India] Oh, I’m still trying to process it.
/images/ppid_a911dc6a-image-178285806308287889.webp)
