IND vs IRE: Reigning T20 World Cup champions India were defeated by Ireland (IND vs IRE), who won the first match of the two-match series by 34 runs in Belfast on Friday. The Indian team was playing its first match in this format since winning the T20 World Cup in March. This was also India’s first ever defeat against Ireland.
After losing the toss and batting first, Ireland scored 182 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 20 overs. Lorcan Tucker scored 50 runs. In reply, the Indian team could only manage 148 runs in 18.5 overs. Opener Abhishek Sharma top-scored with 50 runs off 20 balls. Young batsman Vaibhav Sooryavanshi did not get a chance to debut in this match.
Indian batters failed to chase the target
India lost control of the match in the last five overs of Ireland’s innings. Captain Shreyas Iyer handed the ball to Washington Sundar in the 16th over. He conceded 19 runs in his only over. Then, in the 17th over, Prasidh Krishna conceded 27 runs. Delaney hit three consecutive sixes off the last three balls of his over. India conceded 46 runs in these two overs, taking Ireland’s score from 118/5 to 164/5.
Indian fielders dropped three crucial catches. Shivam Dube dropped Tim Tector, Abhishek Sharma missed a simple catch off Gareth Delany, and Washington Sundar missed Lorcan Tucker. These lifelines helped Tucker to score 50 and Delany to score 49.
Chasing 183, India lost Sanju Samson (5), Ishan Kishan (1), and captain Shreyas Iyer (3) for 60 runs. Abhishek Sharma played a quickfire 50 off 20 balls, but his dismissal shattered the team. Seven batsmen failed to reach double figures, and India were all out for 148.
Brief Scores:
Ireland 182/9 in 20 overs (Lorcan Tucker 50, Gareth Delany 49; Harshit Rana 3-24) beat India 148 all-out in 18.3 overs (Abhishek 50, Shivam Dube 25; Matthew Hollard 3-28, Matthew Humphreys 3-38) by 34 runs.
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