Ireland whitewash India

Ireland pulled off a stunning 2-0 clean sweep over India in a two-match T20I series by winning the second and final T20I by one run in Belfast on Sunday.

Put into bat, the Irish posted 154-8 in their 20 overs with Harry Tector top scoring with 53 off 47 deliveries and Ben Calitz chipping in with a handy 37 off 23 balls.

India’s debutant pacer Prince Yadav was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3-22 in his four overs.

In reply, the current T20 world champions finished on 153-9 in their 20 overs.

Jai Moondra and Matt Holler, the star bowlers in the first T20I, took three wickets each to help their side register a historic victory.

India’s heavyweight top-order fell apart inside the Powerplay, as the visitors were four down for just 35 runs in 4.5 overs.

Rain interrupted play for around half an hour when India were on 54-4 after eight overs.

Once action resumed, so did India’s misery, as they lost two more wickets in regular succession.

Tilak Varma hung one end up and scored a half-century but when it was time to get on with the scoring, he sliced a shot off Holler and got caught at long-off for 55 off 46 balls in the 18th over.

Tail-ender Harshit Rana then threatened to take the match away from the hosts, hitting two fours and a six in a 10-ball 21.

Defending 20 off the last over, Harry Tector lost his composure, bowling two wides and a no-ball as the equation came down to eight off the last two deliveries.

Harshit tried to smash the ball over the long-on boundary, but instead hit it straight to Tim Tector, as Ireland rejoiced a wicket and a certain victory.

Prince hit a six off the final delivery but it didn’t matter as the Irish began celebrating one of the biggest achievements in their cricketing history.

Earlier, Ireland beat India by 34 runs in the first T20I on Friday – their first win over India in any format of the game.