Ireland scripted one of the biggest victories in their cricketing history on Sunday, edging past reigning T20 World Cup champions India by one run in the second T20I to complete a sensational 2-0 series sweep at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont.
The triumph marked Ireland's first-ever bilateral series win over India and brought an end to the visitors' remarkable run of 16 successive T20I series victories, a streak that had stretched back to 2023. Despite being without five regular first-choice players, Lorcan Tucker's side delivered two disciplined performances to outplay the Asian giants in both matches.
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 across the series, with Moondra and Matthew Hollard claiming three wickets apiece in the second game. For India, the defeat exposed familiar issues, particularly their struggles against left-arm pace and adapting to conditions outside the IPL.
The chase unravelled almost immediately. Moondra struck twice in his opening over to remove both Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma for first-ball ducks. Samson, was trapped lbw after missing a flick to a skiddy delivery. Two **** later, Abhishek miscued a short ball and was caught at third man.
India's troubles deepened when captain Shreyas Iyer chopped one back onto his stumps off Moondra after scoring 10. Ishan Kishan attempted to rebuild alongside Tilak Varma, but confusion between the wickets resulted in a run-out for 12. With the scoreboard reading 39 for 4 inside the Powerplay, India had lost four wickets within 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 steady the innings. A brief rain interruption disrupted play, but the pair ensured India remained in the contest despite the required rate continuing to climb.
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 holing out to deep square leg off Matthew Humphreys. Varma, meanwhile, continued to anchor the innings and reached his half-century in 45 **** by launching India's first six of the innings, sending Hollard over deep mid-wicket.
His stay, however, ended immediately afterwards. Looking to clear the infield again, Varma mistimed a lofted drive to extra cover, while debutant Suryansh Shedge soon followed after failing to clear the larger boundary and being caught at deep mid
The triumph marked Ireland's first-ever bilateral series win over India and brought an end to the visitors' remarkable run of 16 successive T20I series victories, a streak that had stretched back to 2023. Despite being without five regular first-choice players, Lorcan Tucker's side delivered two disciplined performances to outplay the Asian giants in both matches.
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 across the series, with Moondra and Matthew Hollard claiming three wickets apiece in the second game. For India, the defeat exposed familiar issues, particularly their struggles against left-arm pace and adapting to conditions outside the IPL.
The chase unravelled almost immediately. Moondra struck twice in his opening over to remove both Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma for first-ball ducks. Samson, was trapped lbw after missing a flick to a skiddy delivery. Two **** later, Abhishek miscued a short ball and was caught at third man.
India's troubles deepened when captain Shreyas Iyer chopped one back onto his stumps off Moondra after scoring 10. Ishan Kishan attempted to rebuild alongside Tilak Varma, but confusion between the wickets resulted in a run-out for 12. With the scoreboard reading 39 for 4 inside the Powerplay, India had lost four wickets within 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 steady the innings. A brief rain interruption disrupted play, but the pair ensured India remained in the contest despite the required rate continuing to climb.
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 holing out to deep square leg off Matthew Humphreys. Varma, meanwhile, continued to anchor the innings and reached his half-century in 45 **** by launching India's first six of the innings, sending Hollard over deep mid-wicket.
His stay, however, ended immediately afterwards. Looking to clear the infield again, Varma mistimed a lofted drive to extra cover, while debutant Suryansh Shedge soon followed after failing to clear the larger boundary and being caught at deep mid
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