Hardik Pandya was a relieved and joyous captain as India barely managed to beat an amazing chase by Ireland in the second T20I of the two-match series which was played in Malahide, Dublin on June 29, 2022. India came into this match with a 1-0 lead after beating the home side in the first match in a rain-curtailed encounter on June 26.

Hardik Pandya won the toss and chose to bat first. The visitors made three changes as Sanju Samson, Harshal Patel and Ravi Bishnoi replaced Ruturaj Gaikwad, Avesh Khan, and Yuzvendra Chahal. Ireland came into the match unchanged.

India’s inning of 225/7 was a story of the 176-run partnership for the second wicket between Sanju Samson and Deepak Hooda. Sanju Samson scored his maiden T20I fifty and got out on 77 in 42 balls with 9 fours and 4 sixes.

Hooda carried on after reaching his first T20I fifty and reached his maiden T20I century in 55 balls, finishing on 104 with 9 fours and 6 sixes to his name. He became the fourth Indian to score a T20I ton after Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul.

After the match ended, India captain Hardik Pandya was a relieved and joyous man and said:

“(Final over) Not worried to be honest. Wanted to keep pressure out of my equation, wanted to be in the present. I backed Umran since he has pace. With his pace, its difficult for people to hit. I think we’ve come to play a game of cricket, so Ireland were going to show us what they have. Credit to them, they played amazing shots. At the same point of time, credit to our bowlers to cross the line. (Irish experience) The crowd was amazing. Their favourites boys were Dinesh and Sanju, great to see them enjoy them. Good for us to experience cricket in this part of the world too. Grateful to the fans. (New faces) Proud. As a child, it is everyone’s dream to play the country. At the same point of time, leading and getting first victory and now first series win is special. Also happy for Hooda as well, the way he batted. And Umran.”

Andy Balbirnie’s Fifty Leads Ireland’s Brilliant Run Chase

Andy Balbirnie and Paul Stirling laid an amazing foundation for Ireland in the stiff chase as they added 72 runs in the powerplay overs. Stirling fell for 40 in 17 balls, while Balbirnie continued and made 60 in 37 balls with 7 sixes and 3 fours.

Harry Tector with 39, George Dockrell (34* in 16 balls with 3 fours and 3 sixes), and Mark Adair (23* in 12 balls) almost took Ireland home but the Indian bowlers proved to be good enough to hand India a 4-run win as Ireland managed 221/5 in the chase.

Also Read: IRE vs IND: Twitter Reacts As India Manage To Stave Off Ireland For A Close 4-Run Win; Wins Series 2-0