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New Delhi: Ireland defeated India by 1 run in the 2nd T20I to complete a historic series sweep at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast on Sunday, June 28. This is their first-ever series win over the Men in Blue in any format. They have also ended India’s 16-series/tournaments unbeaten streak, which began in 2023 against the same opposition.

Chasing the 155-run target, India got off to a poor start as Jai Moondra removed Sanju Samson on his first delivery again, trapping him LBW for a golden duck. He also removed Abhishek Sharma for a golden duck in the same over, with Michael Hollard taking an incredible catch.

Things got from bad to worse for the Men in Blue as captain Shreyas Iyer chopped on to hand Moondra his third wicket. Tilak started his innings brilliantly, but a horrible miscommunication between him and Ishan Kishan saw the latter run out on 12, leaving India reeling at 35/4.

Tilak then started the rebuilding process with Axar Patel before rain interrupted the match for a longer period of time. The duo rotated strike but struggled against spin again in a 40-ball 39-run partnership. Matt Hollard ended that partnership by removing Axar for 14 off 18 in the 12th over.

The asking rate soared to 10, and the Men in Blue managed to score 19 runs off the next two overs with Tilak and Dube hitting a few boundaries. Liam McCarthy bowled a five-run over to put some pressure on the Indian team, and Dube smashed a short ball from Matthew Humphreys to deep square leg in the 17th over.

Humphreys conceded just two runs in the 17th over, which largely shifted the momentum in Ireland’s favour. Tilak completed his fifty with a maximum but was removed by Hollard on the next ball. Shedge also couldn’t contribute much with the bat. With 32 runs needed off 10 deliveries, Rana made the match interesting by smashing a maximum and a boundary.

Arshdeep retained strike off the final ball of the 19th over, leaving the visitors with 21 runs to get in the last. Harry Tector somehow held his nerve and helped Ireland secure a 1-run win. He bowled a wide ad concedes a single on the first ball. Tector then bowled a no-ball and also gave away two runs. Harshit Rana smacked a maximum on a free hit, and the equation came down to 11 from 4.

With 8 needed to win off the last two deliveries, Rana swung a full toss to long on, before Prince smashed a six on the last ball down as India fell 1-run short.

After being asked to bat first, the hosts started positively with Ross Adair smashing two sixes against Arshdeep Singh in the opening over. There was some extra bounce on offer from the pitch for the pacers, and they used it well. Harshit Rana removed Tim Tector for 5 runs in the second over.

The fast bowler kept things tight as Ireland finished the powerplay on 44/2. Debutant Prince Yadav, who bowled well in the powerplay, picked up his first wicket by dismissing Lorcan Tucker.

At the halfway point, the hosts were struggling at 58/3 before Benjamin Calitz shifted gears, hitting attacking shots against debutant Suryansh Shedge. He smashed a boundary and a maximum before Shedge overstepped and saw Tector hit a six, as the over went for 22 runs.

Tector also changed gears along with Calitz as the duo forged a 65-run stand. Shivam Dube dismissed Calitz for 37 off 23 in the 14th over, and also removed Gareth Delany with a nip-backer on the next ball. Shreyas Iyer gave him an extra over, although he conceded 13 runs.

There was a very brief rain break, after which George Dockrell resumed with a maximum. He was removed by Arshdeep in the penultimate over. Tector completed his half-century, but Prince bowled brilliantly in the last over and picked up two wickets. The Men in Blue will next face England in the first T20I of the five-match series in Chester-Le-Street on July 1.