IND vs IRE 2022, 2nd T20I: Deepak Hooda's ton ensures thrilling clean sweep for India; fans elated
India defeated Ireland by four runs in the thrilling battle in the final T20I in Dublin on Tuesday. Consequently, it was a 2-0 clean sweep from the visitors, while the fans were elated by it.
FollowIn what turned out to be an ultimate thriller, the second and final Twenty20 International (T20I) between India and Ireland went down to the wire until the final delivery. Being played at the Malahide Cricket Club (The Village) in Dublin on Tuesday, the visitors edged past by four wickets, thus completing its 2-0 clean sweep. It was a high-scoring thriller, with the pitch perfectly suited for the batters. For India, top-order batter Deepak Hooda's refined century played a pivotal role in the win, which opener Sanju Samson aided. At the same time, the fans were elated with the thrilling nature of the success.
Winning the toss, Indian skipper Hardik Pandya opted to bat, making three changes in the playing XI. The visitors lost Ishan Kishan (3) early, in the third over to pacer Mark Adair. However, Samson (77) and Hooda (104) changed the course of the innings, putting on a delightful 176-run stand for the second wicket, while it turned out to be India's highest partnership in the format.
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Samson struck his second T20I half-century at this time before falling to Adair in the 17th. In due course, Hooda slammed his maiden T20I ton, thus becoming only the fourth Indian to do so. However, in the 18th, at 212, he was dismissed by pacer Joshua Little, while the middle-order could barely add anything.
Nevertheless, India managed to post a mammoth total of 225/7, while Adair bagged three and medium-pacer Craig Young was the most economical one for the hosts. In reply, Ireland was off to an explosive start, hammering 72 by the sixth over of the powerplay before the opening wicket fell in the form of Paul Stirling (40), who leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi knocked over.
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While Ireland lost Gareth Delany (0) off an unfortunate run out a run later in the seventh, Andrew Balbirnie (60) and Harry Tector (39) added 34 for the third wicket before the former departed to Harshal Patel after hitting his sixth T20I 50. After going down to 142/4, Tector and George Dockrell (34*) added 47 for the fifth wicket before seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed the former in the 18th.
The equation was 18 needed off the final six, as fierce pacer Umran Malik was handed the duties for the last over. Although he gave away 12 runs in the over, including a no-ball, he managed to keep it tight and ensure that the hosts fell short by four runs to register a thrilling 2-0 clean sweep. Leg-spinner Axar Patel was the most economical of all in a joint bowling effort from the Indians.
Brief scores: IND 225/7 (Samson- 77, Hooda- 104; Adair- 3/42) defeats IRE 221/5 (Stirling- 40, Balbirnie- 60, Tector- 39, Dockrell- 34; Bishnoi- 1/41) by four runs.
