Belfast (Ireland): World champions India paid the price for taking Ireland lightly in the first T20 International here on Friday evening.
In one of the biggest upsets of recent times, Ireland humbled India by 34 runs.
Shreyas Iyer couldn’t have imagined a more shocking start to his stint as Team India captain as Ireland notched up their maiden triumph against their heavyweight rivals in any form of cricket, having lost the previous 8 T20I s and 3 ODIs.
Morning didn’t show the day as Indian pacers looked to be on song after Iyer won the toss and opted to field first.
Comeback man Harshit Rana struck in his first and second overs, and Arshdeep Singh in his second over as Ireland were reduced to 30/3 under in conditions favouring quick bowlers.
From 51/4, however, Ireland staged a brilliant fightback to post a competitive 182/9, thanks to feisty knocks from skipper Lorcan Tucker (50 off 36 balls) and Gareth Delany (49 off 32).
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India never looked to be in control of the chase. But for Abhishek Sharma (49 off 20 balls, 7×4, 2×6), the top order was woeful. Sanju Samson (5), Ishan Kishan (1) and Iyer (3) were undone by two debutants – Matt Hollard and Rajasthan-born Jai Moondra.
Tilak Varma made 19 and Shivam Dube 25, but the visitors were well behind the asking rate, and were ultimately bowled out for 148 with 7 balls left in their innings.
BRIEF SCORES
Ireland 182/9 in 20 overs (Lorcan Tucker 50, Gareth Delany 49; Harshit Rana 3/24, Arshdeep Singh 2/28, Axar Patel 2/33).
India 148 in 18.5 overs (Abhishek Sharma 49; Matt Hollard 3/28, Matthew Humphreys 3/38).
Result: Ireland won by 34 runs.
Player of the Match: Matt Hollard.
Second ODI: June 28 at Belfast from 6 pm.
