IND vs IRE: India beat Ireland by four runs in close match, Umran Malik defends 17 runs in last over

The Indian team won by four runs in the exciting T20 match played between India and Ireland. India, coached by Hardik Pandya, won the second match in a row to sweep the two-match T20I series. Batting first, the India team scored a grand total of 227 runs and then successfully defended it. Umran Malik saved 17 runs in the last over. Deepak Hooda, who scored a century for India, was awarded the Man of the Match title.

Ireland gave stiff competition to the away team chasing India’s target of 228 runs. The hosts got off to a fast and strong start. Paul Stirling (40) and captain Andy Balbirnie (60) shared a partnership of 72 runs from 34 balls for the first wicket. Ravi Bishnoi gave India the first breakthrough by throwing to Sterling. After this, Gareth Delany was left without opening the account and returned to the pavilion. However, Balbirnie continued to score runs with Harry Tector and forged a vital partnership. He also completed his half century during this period.

Umran got his first wicket

Following Balbirnie’s dismissal, Tector also played quick kicks and scored 39 runs on 28 balls. At the other extreme, Lorcan Tucker was sacked by Umran Malik at the hands of Yuzvendra Chahal and took the first wicket from him. The Ireland team looked to be in trouble after losing four wickets at 142, but after that George Dockrell (34*) and Tector batted together and shared a 47-run partnership. Bhuvneshwar, however, dealt another big blow to the hosts by sacking Tector and gave relief to India. But Mark Ader, along with Dockrell, increased the pace of racing and made an unbroken partnership for sixth wicket. Both brought the team closer to victory, but Umran successfully defended 17 runs in the last over.

Record partnership of 176 runs between Samson-Hooda

Before, the Indian team landed with three changes. Hardik won the toss and chose to bat and Ishan Kishan along with Sanju Samson opened the innings. Ishan continued after scoring three runs in the third over. But after this, Deepak Hooda and Samson together took the innings forward and shared a record partnership. The duo made the highest Indian association of 176 runs from 85 balls for the second wicket.

Hooda fourth Indian to score a century at T20 Internationals

While Hooda earned his first T20 International century, Samson also earned the highest individual score during this period. Hooda became the fourth Indian to score a century in T20 International cricket. He scored 104 runs on 57 balls that included nine fours and six sixes. Sanju Samson played it well, scoring 77 runs on 42 balls on nine fours and four sixes. Putting pressure on Ireland’s inexperienced bowlers, both played the shots they wanted.

Samson-Hooda gets life

Samson came to life in the ninth when leg thrower Gareth Delany dropped his hard return. Earlier in the eighth over, Paul Stirling had dropped Hooda’s catch. Samson was fired in the 17th by Adair. India’s score was 212 runs when Hooda’s wicket fell. Dinesh Karthik, Harshal Patel and Akshar Patel couldn’t even open the account. India lost three wickets in 14 runs in the last two overs. Surya Kumar Yadav was sacked for 15 while skipper Hardik Pandya remained undefeated for 13.