Ireland showed incredible play in the two-legged T20 series against India. Although the Indian team won easily in the first T20, but in the second match, Ireland put up a tough fight. Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie lamented the four-run loss to India in the second T20 at Malahide and said it was amazing to be close to victory against a strong team.
With 17 runs needed from the final, Ireland could only manage 12 runs, losing by four runs while chasing a target of 225 runs. He said: “We are all very sad. It never happens that you get as close to a team as India. We did a great job with the bat.”
After the match, Balbirnie said: “I don’t think we would make you challenge a team like India. It was a great game of cricket for everyone here. The last two games had a huge crowd.”
Paul Stirling hit aggressively for the chase on the power play, hitting three fours and sixes off Bhuvneshwar Kumar and scoring 18 runs in the opening. He gave Balbarni time to calm down. However, Stirling was fired by Ravi Bishnoi, who spun his legs, in the latter part of the power play.
Balbirnie said: “We knew we had to use the power play. We all knew that. I think Paul got off to a great start. He went after Bhuvi in the first over. The first association worked for the rest of the player. “Going after the goal was easy. I think he did very well in all respects.”
Harry Tector scored 39 runs on 28 balls in the first T20, while George Dockrell scored an unbeaten 34 on 16 balls and Mark Adair scored 23 runs on 12 balls. Balbirnie said the way Ireland made India think, they are expected to do the same in the upcoming matches.
