India clinch series as Ireland fall short of finish line in the second T20I

After rain played spoilsport in the opening fixture of the series where the Duckworth Lewis method had to be brought in to separate the two teams, yesterday was a bright and sunny day in Dublin as Malahide played host to a crackling second T20I with India clinching the series after an emphatic display from the entire team.

Ireland won the toss and put India to bat as both sides went unchanged into the game. The two openers for the Men in Blue were off to a flying start as Yashasvi Jaiswal rocked his shots in tremendous fashion while Ruturaj Gaikwad took his time to get acclimatized to the track.

Much to India’s woes, Jaiswal (18) ended up skying a ball as Curtis Campher took a simple catch while Tilak Varma’s dismissal intensified the frowns on the Indian faces as George Dockrell found himself at the end of what was another elevated enterprise off Barry McCarthy’s bowling.

Wobbling at 34/2, an experienced Sanju Samson came to India’s aid as he started rebuilding the innings alongside Gaikwad. The duo added 71 runs for the third wicket before Samson departed for a well-constructed 40 from just 26 balls. Gaikwad carried on the rampage alongside an incoming Rinku Singh who looked solid during his tenure in the center.

Gaikwad amassed a crucial 58 from just 43 balls, clubbing six fours and a six while Rinku stayed in the center and smashed the ball around, as India kept on cruising without breaking a sweat. The arrival of Shivam Dube in the middle after the fall of Gaikwad was the cue for the two southpaws to start hammering away and they did so, effortlessly.

The two added 55 runs from just 28 balls for the fifth wicket as Rinku smashed a 21-ball-38 while Dube stayed unbeaten for a staggering 22 from just 16 balls, clobbering away two massive sixes in the process. India posted 185 at the end of their 20 overs.

Ireland’s chase got off to a very wrong footing as they lost the prized trio of Paul Stirling, Lorcan Tucker and Harry Tector without too many runs on the board. Prasidh Krishna claimed Stirling and Tucker while Bishnoi rattled through the defences of Harry Tector.

Curtis Campher and Andrew Balbirnie joined forces and started the overhaul only for Bishnoi to return with the second wicket of the day as Dube pouched a comfortable catch.

George Dockrell did try and help out Balbirnie in the chase but could only add 13 runs before a mix-up in the center allowed Sanju Samson to effect a run-out despite a wild throw from Bishnoi.

Much to Ireland’s woes, they lost Balbirnie for 72 with Arshdeep Singh finally producing the breakthrough followed by another cheap giveaway by the hosts as Bumrah claimed his first of the match with McCarthy holing out to Ravi Bishnoi.

Mark Adair stayed till the very end with a well-fought 23 from just 15 balls but Bumrah claimed him too as the former got way too ambitious, guiding the cherry straight into the hands of Tilak Varma. To cap things off in probably the finest fashion, the Indian skipper bowled a wicket-maiden in the final over of the innings, a feat that very few bowlers have pulled off so far.