Moondra, Hollard do it again as Ireland script epic series sweep

On a rollercoaster day marked by a World Cup blockbuster and a shock retirement, Ireland wrote themselves into history with a 2-0 series sweep over reigning world champions India in Belfast. Backing up their first ever win over India on Friday, they sealed a 1-run win in the second T20I on Sunday (June 28), led by three-wicket hauls from pace duo Jai Moondra and Matthew Hollard.

Asked to bat first, Ireland started positively as Ross Adair smashed two sixes off Arshdeep Singh in the opening over. There was extra bounce for the seamers, who used it well. Tim Tector fell cheaply before Arshdeep removed Adair. Ireland finished the Powerplay on 44/2, then slowed once the field spread.

Debutant Prince Yadav took his first wicket in the form of Lorcan Tucker, caught behind attempting to heave across the line. At halfway, Ireland were 58/3 before Benjamin Calitz accelerated, smashing debutant Suryansh Shedge for a four and six, with a free hit going for six as the over yielded 22 runs.

Harry Tector also found his groove as the pair added 65 runs. Shivam Dube then struck twice, removing Calitz and cleaning up Gareth Delany to put himself on a hat-trick. George Dockrell hit a six after a brief rain delay but fell to Arshdeep in the penultimate over. Tector reached his fifty before Prince closed brilliantly, finishing with 3/22 in his first T20I.

India's chase started disastrously as Moondra trapped Sanju Samson LBW first ball. In the same over, Abhishek Sharma fell for a golden duck after an incredible catch from Hollard. Shreyas Iyer chopped on to give Moondra his third. A horrible miscommunication saw Ishan Kishan run out, leaving India at 35/4.

Axar Patel and Tilak Varma rebuilt with a 40-ball 39-run stand before Axar edged to the keeper. Tilak broke free with a four and Dube swung one down the ground, but the pressure told as Dube holed out. Matthew Humphreys' two-run 16th over swung the game Ireland's way.

Tilak fell shortly after hitting the first six of the innings for his fifty. With 32 needed off 10, Arshdeep Singh made things interesting with a six and four. Harry Tector defended 21 in the final over, which included wides, a waist-high full toss, and a boundary off an inside edge on free hit. With 8 needed off 2, Rana swung to long on before Prince hit the last ball for six as India fell agonisingly short.

Brief Scores: Ireland 154/8 in 20 overs (Harry Tector 53, Benjamin Calitz 37; Prince Yadav 3-22, Shivam Dube 2-25) beat India 152/9 in 20 overs (Tilak Varma 55; Matthew Hollard 3-26, Jai Moondra 3-32) by 1 run.