Ireland stun India, register maiden win across formats

Reigning T20 world champions India have been stunned by Ireland in Belfast, with the hosts clinching a 34-run victory over the visitors in the first of two T20Is on Friday.

Skipper Lorcan Tucker’s 36-ball half-century and Gareth Delany’s 49 off 32 helped Ireland post 182-9 after being sent to bat first.

In reply, India’s star-studded batting line-up had a rare off day as they got bundled out for 148 in 18.5 overs.

Debutants Matt Holler and Jai Moondra claimed three and two wickets each while for the visitors, only opener Abhishek Sharma crossed the 30-run mark in an underwhelming batting performance.

This is Ireland’s first win over India across three formats.

The match started on the wrong foot for Ireland as they were four down for 51 inside eight overs.

Tucker and Delany then steadied the innings with a 64-run stand off 44 balls.

Pacer Harshit Rana broke the stand by removing Tucker, but Delany stuck around till the 19th over to help the Irish post a challenging total.

Despite losing three wickets in the Powerplay, India got off to a flier, scoring 68 runs off the first six overs, thanks to Abhishek’s power-hitting.

But once the left-hander departed for a 20-ball 49, getting caught at deep mid-wicket off Liam McCarthy in the eighth over, the Indian reply lost its way.

Ireland kept taking wickets in regular successions and eventually bundled out the world champions to register a memorable win.

Before the match, India and Ireland had faced off in three ODIs and eight T20Is, with India winning all of them.

The second and final T20I will take place on Sunday.