India Vs Ireland 2nd T20: Deepak Hooda's blistering knock of 104 off just 57 helped India complete a series sweep over Ireland

This high-scoring game was indeed a feast for cricket fans across the world. The Malahide Cricket Ground, a batting-friendly surface with high-scoring matches, witnessed 446 runs scored by both teams, including 25 sixes and 41 fours. Indian captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and chose to bat first. India made three changes to their playing XI, Sanju Samson, Harshal Patel, and Ravi Bishnoi, replacing Ruturaj Gaikwad, Avesh Khan and Yuzvendra Chahal. 

Highest partnership in T20 for India

Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson opened the innings for India in the 2nd T20I. India lost Ishan Kishan early as Mark Adair dismissed him with a wild swing as India got to a slow start with 13-1 in 3 overs. Deepak Hooda and Sanju Samson took some time to settle, bashed the Irish bowlers and scored boundaries across the ground. Deepak Hooda and Sanju Samson recorded the highest partnership for India in the T20s with 176 run-stand. Deepak Hooda played a blistering knock of 104(57) to bring up his maiden T20I century and become the fourth batsman for India to score a century in T20I. Sanju Samson scored his first T20I fifty after his T20 debut in 2015.

Quick Wickets towards the end

Despite the blistering start, India lost its six wickets for 35 runs towards the end in the last four overs. India reached a massive total of 225 in 20 overs with the cameo innings of Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya. Craig Young dismissed Dinesh Karthik and Axar Patel in consecutive balls for a duck. Mark Adair picked three wickets, and Josh Little took two to restrict Indian batters to 225 at a loss of 7 wickets.

Ireland’s Flying Start

Ireland openers Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie used great powerplay while chasing the huge target. Stirling scored 18 runs in the first over off Bhuvneshwar Kumar as the Irish team got off to a flier, scoring 65 runs in the first five overs. Ravi Bishnoi got the breakthrough by dismissing Paul Stirling 40(18) with a googly in the last over of the powerplay. 

Ireland’s Counter-attack!

Andy Balbirnie got a reprieve against Ravi Bishnoi as he overstepped, and the third umpire called it a no-ball. The Irish skipper counter-attacked Indian bowlers before getting dismissed by Harshal Patel for 60(37). He played a captain’s knock as he scored his sixth T20 fifty. The 47 run-stand between Harry Tector and George Dockrell ensured that Ireland was still in the game. Dockrell played a fiery knock of 34*(16) at a strike rate of 212.50. Mark Adair played a much-needed cameo inning towards the end. Bhuvneshwar Kumar nailed perfect yorkers consistently in the 18th over, giving just seven runs off the over.

In contrast, Harshal Patel bowled an expensive 19th over, conceding 14 runs which left 17 runs to be defended off the final over by the Indian team. Hardik Pandya could have bowled the last over himself but trusted the young gun, Umran Malik’s pace. Although Mark Adair scored a couple of boundaries, Umran Malik held his nerves and won the match for India by four runs. Harshal Patel gave 54 runs in his four overs and picked a crucial wicket of Balbirnie. 

Although Ireland lost the match with a small margin, they impressed everyone with their attacking batting against top-class bowlers. Deepak Hooda was declared “player of the match” for his fabulous century and “player of the Series” for scoring 151 runs in 2 innings. Deepak Hooda is in contention for a place in the T20 World Cup squad hosted by Australia in October. The Indian team will play the fifth test match against England on 1st July 2022