Deepak Hooda – Hardik Pandya partnership defeated Ireland by 7 wickets in the rain-hit 1st India vs Ireland T20I at the Malahide Cricket Club in Dublin. Hooda, who usually comes in the middle order, opened the innings in Dublin and returned unbeaten on 47runs just by 29 balls. Hooda got great support from the captain and skipper Hardik Pandya (24) who made a 32-ball 64 partnership which led India to chase down the challenging 109 runs in 9.2 overs. Hooda, along with Dinesh Karthik finished the match in ease. The match was reduced to 12 overs a side after the rain had interrupted and India finished it off with 16 balls to spare.
India chooses to ball first after winning the toss. Ireland’s Harry Tector scored an unbeaten 64 runs in 33 balls to help Ireland raise the challenging score 108/4 in 12 overs. Tector, the right-handed batter, single-handedly scored 3 sixes and 6 boundaries which put team India under pressure.
India started the match on a strong note with a wicket in the 1st over by Bhuvaneshwar Kumar. Captain Hardik Pandya and Avesh Khan continued scoring by reducing Ireland to 23/3 at one stage. But the Tector – Tucker partnership revived things for Ireland in a 50-run partnership.
Yuzvendra Chahal brings back the match for India by winning the wicket of Tucker and breaking the partnership. In 3 overs, Chahal has given only 11 runs and won the Player of the Match award. Chahal admitted that it was difficult to bowl in that condition, but he had to adapt. He added that Hardik Pandya gave him the liberty to bowl however he wanted in that crucial time.
Ishan Kishan became part of the victory by scoring 26 runs off 11 balls while Suryakumar Yadav was dismissed for a duck. Yadav’s comeback after the injury has made no essence to the team. But the decision to choose Deepak Hooda was the best in this series to beat Ireland with ease.
After winning the 1st match, Captain Pandya says that he is feeling fantastic and it’s great to start the series with a win. Pandya also commented on Tector’s batting that he played fantastically and it’s good to see a talent like him.
Andy Balbirnie, the Irish skipper, commented on the weather that, it is not easy to come to the ground and wait for a long time to start the game after all the warm-ups. He also admits that it is tough to play against the high-class Indian pacers in favorable conditions.
With this win, India has taken a 1-0 lead and is looking forward to finishing the series with a fabulous knock in the next game. The final match will be played on Tuesday, 28th June 2022, at 9 pm.
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