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The Hardik Pandya-led India were challenged by the Irish in a high-scoring encounter but came out on top with a last-ball win by just four runs. Despite Deepak Hooda’s century and record-breaking partnership with Sanju Samson, Ireland made a comeback in the final T20I with the bat and kept Hardik’s troops on their toes. In the end, Umran Malik rose to the challenge and managed to defend 17 runs as India avoided an embarrassing defeat at the hands of Irish.
Scary start
Chasing a mammoth total of 226, Ireland got off to a thumping start. Veteran opener Paul Stirling punished Bhuvneshwar Kumar by hitting him for one six and three fours in the over. The assault started from both ends in the powerplay overs. In five overs, they had 65 runs on the board. Ravi Bishnoi provided the much-needed breakthrough with the wicket of Stirling in the sixth over. The opener got out after an 18-ball 40. After fielding restrictions, the hosts had 73/1 on the board.
Balbirnie leads charge
Hardik handed the ball to speedster Malik in the next over. Gareth Delany got run out after Pandya's brilliant direct hit. Bishnoi almost got the wicket of opener Andrew Balbirnie but it was called a no ball. Balbirnie got to his half-century from 34 balls in the 10th over. In the next over, he decided to take on Harshal but got out for a 37-ball 60. Balbirnie hit three fours and seven sixes in his 60-run knock.
Nervous slog overs
India would have got another wicket in the 11th over but Ishan Kishan missed a run out chance. In the 14th over, Harry Tucker became Malik's first international wicket. The half-centurion of last game, Harry Tector and George Dockrell took the chase deep. In the 18th over, Bhuvneshwar got the wicket of Tector. The 22-year-old Irish batter scored 39 runs from 28 deliveries.
Malik’s ultimate test in last over
Mark Adair was up to the task as well and hit a few boundaries. In the last over, Malik needed to defend 17 runs. He started off with two dot balls. However, the second one turned out to be a no ball. Off the free hit delivery, Adair hit Malik for a boundary. He hit another boundary to make Indians nervous. But Malik kept his cool and finished well conceding just three singles off the last three deliveries as India won by a narrow margin of four runs.
Excellent start despite early wicket
Earlier, Hardik won the toss and opted to bat first. India lost their opener Ishan Kishan early in the powerplay overs. Kishan edged one off Mark Adair's bowling and got out for a single-digit score. Samson and Hooda made use of the fielding restrictions despite losing early wickets. After the powerplay overs, India had 54/1 on the board with Hooda doing more damage.
Hooda, Samson’s record-breaking partnership
Ireland veteran Stirling made a huge mistake in the eighth over by dropping the catch of Hooda. He was batting on 33 then. At the halfway stage, Hooda reached his half-century from 27 deliveries. He went on an all out attack with Samson playing second fiddle. Samson got to his maiden T20I fifty from 31 deliveries. Samson got out early in the slog overs. He scored 77 runs from 42 deliveries including nine fours and fours sixes. The duo shared a 176-run partnership, the highest partnership for second wicket in the format.
Hooda’s century, dull finish
In the 18th over, Hooda reached his century off 55 deliveries and joined the elite list of Indian players to breach the three-figure mark. Suryakumar Yadav scored a quickfire 15 and got out in the 18th over. In the same over, Hooda got out to Joshua Little. India failed to finish with a flourish as they lost three of their batters for golden duck. Skipper Hardik remained unbeaten for 9-ball 13 as India posted 225/7 on the board, their fourth-highest total in the format.
