Harry Tector’s fifty and Jai Moondra’s fiery spell helped Ireland script a landmark 2-0 T20I series victory over world champions India in Belfast.
Belfast: Ireland completed a historic 2-0 T20I series sweep over world champions India after clinching a thrilling one-run victory in the second and final match at Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast on Sunday.
Defending a modest total of 154, the hosts produced a disciplined bowling performance to restrict India to 153 for 9, ending the visitors’ remarkable unbeaten streak of 16 consecutive T20I series that had stretched for nearly three years.
Harry Tector marked his 100th T20I appearance with a composed 53, anchoring Ireland’s innings after early wickets had put the hosts under pressure. His crucial 65-run partnership with Ben Calitz laid the foundation for Ireland’s total of 154 for 8.
India’s bowlers initially kept Ireland in check, with debutant Prince making an impressive start to his international career. The pacer claimed three wickets for 22 runs, dismissing Tector and Liam McCarthy in the final over to finish as India’s standout bowler. Shivam Dube also struck twice in successive deliveries to remove Ben Calitz and Gareth Delany, halting Ireland’s middle-order momentum.
Chasing 155, India suffered a disastrous start as Ireland’s left-arm pacer Jai Moondra produced a sensational opening spell. He dismissed Sanju Samson with the very first ball of the innings before removing Abhishek Sharma later in the same over, leaving India reeling. It was only the fourth instance in T20 International history that both opening batters were dismissed for golden ducks.
Moondra continued to trouble the Indian batting line-up, bowling captain Shreyas Iyer and later contributing to Ishan Kishan’s run-out through a sharp piece of fielding. India slumped to 35 for 4 inside the powerplay, placing the chase firmly in Ireland’s favour.
Tilak Varma fought a lone battle with a patient 55 off 46 balls and shared useful partnerships with Axar Patel and Shivam Dube to keep India’s hopes alive. However, Ireland’s bowlers maintained tight control on a sluggish surface, making boundary-scoring difficult throughout the innings.
Matt Hollard delivered another impressive performance, while left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys made a crucial breakthrough by dismissing Shivam Dube during the closing stages. Tilak’s departure soon afterwards ended India’s last realistic hopes of pulling off the chase.
Moondra finished with outstanding figures of 3 for 32, while Hollard claimed 3 for 26 as Ireland held their nerve in the tense final overs to secure one of the biggest victories in the country’s cricketing history.
The series triumph marks Ireland’s first-ever T20I series win over India and brings to an end India’s unbeaten run of 16 successive bilateral T20I series, underlining the hosts’ remarkable rise in the shortest format.
In the opening match on Friday, Ireland stunned India by 34 runs to register their first-ever victory over the world champions in any format. Captain Lorcan Tucker had led the charge with a half-century, while debutants Matt Hollard and Jai Moondra starred with the ball to hand Ireland a memorable win. Building on that breakthrough, the hosts produced another disciplined all-round performance on Sunday to complete an unprecedented series sweep
