“What a thriller we’ve witnessed” – India Avoid A Massive Upset As They Defeat Ireland By Four Runs In A High-Scoring Second T20I Match Of The Series

After winning the first T20I match comprehensively, India was looking to clean sweep Ireland in the series on 28 June 2022. The stage was set for Hardik Pandya and his boys to deliver another dominating performance over the Irish.

However, no delay of play due to rain as India won the toss and opted for batting only. India made three changes as Sanju Samson came in place of Ruturaj Gaikwad as he missed the match due to some niggle. Avesh Khan and Yuzvendra Chahal were rested as Harshal Patel and Ravichandran Bishnoi came into the Team. On the other hand, Ireland went with the same team.

While batting first, India got an early setback as Ishan Kishan lost his wicket after scoring 3 off 5 balls. Then, Deepak Hooda (104 runs off 57 balls) and Sanju Samson (77 runs off 42 balls) stitched the best-ever T20I partnership for India of 176 runs. They took India to 189 runs before Sanju Samson got out for 77 runs off 42 balls in 16.2 overs. However, after that Ireland managed to pull back some momentum towards them as India managed to reach up to 225 runs by losing seven wickets in 20 overs. Deepak Hooda scored his first T20I hundred in just his third innings while Mark Adair was the pick of the bowlers from Ireland by picking up three wickets, conceding 42 runs in four overs.

In reply, the Irish openers, both Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbirnie were in great touch as they reached the 50-run mark in just four overs only. However, Ravi Bishnoi took the first wicket for India when Stirling departed, scoring 40 runs off 18 balls only in 5.4 overs. The Irish captain Andrew Balbirnie continued his hitting as Ireland reached the 100-run mark in just nine overs. Balbirnie departs for 60 runs, thanks to Harshal Patel as Ireland was 124 runs in 12 overs. Then, Umran Malik bagged his first wicket for India as he took the wicket of Lorcan Tucker in the 14th over. After that, Harry Tector and George Dockrell put up a fighting show as Ireland needed only 17 runs off six balls. Then, Umran Malik bowled the last over and he managed to avoid the upset as India won the match by four runs only.               

Here is how Twitter reacted to the match:

Mark Adair ends the misery, finally!

Highest 2nd wicket partnership for India in T20Is
176 Samson – Hooda v Ire Dublin 2022
138 Rohit – Kohli v SA Dharamsala 2015
123 Rohit – Rahul v Eng Manchester 2018

Samson b Mark Adair 77(42) [4s-9 6s-4] .. https://t.co/twNurfYw1X #IREvIND

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) June 28, 2022

Deepak Hooda has made every opportunity count this year.

Bailed his team out of trouble time and again in the SMAT20 trophy.

Did the same thing for LSG in the IPL – finished with 450+ runs.

And now delivering as a top-order batter in Indian colours.#IREvIND

— Prasenjit Dey (@CricPrasen) June 28, 2022

https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1541826971440746497

https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1541827452028215296

https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/1541827422546366464

https://twitter.com/KKRiders/status/1541826934996234245

https://twitter.com/Balaji_itisme/status/1541822792898752513

What a phenomenal rise it’s been for Deepak Hooda! Unique way of creating opportunities for big hitting. Steps out at the last second to surprise the seam bowlers.Ends up hitting boundaries off good balls bowled in the stumps.Nightmare for bowlers! #INDvIRE

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) June 28, 2022

https://twitter.com/Abdullah__Neaz/status/1541801575038844933

https://twitter.com/imarnav_904/status/1541825791142805505

Ireland are fighting hard!#IREvIND #Ireland #teamindia #bcci pic.twitter.com/QpPUVB1sTm

— Jega8 (@imBK08) June 28, 2022

https://twitter.com/amoy2j/status/1541839765397315587

https://twitter.com/SonySportsNetwk/status/1541842395545104384

https://twitter.com/FlashCric/status/1541850358103740417

https://twitter.com/mipaltan/status/1541852962011508736

https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1541864459811319808

https://twitter.com/shahbazrcb_a77/status/1541865541006008320

Lord Harshal Patel❤️ Almost won the game for Ireland#IREvIND #INDvIRE #UmranMalik pic.twitter.com/MSxWeRzKII

— Arman Malik (@Armanmalik9582) June 28, 2022

https://twitter.com/KKRiders/status/1541863880871124992