Ireland pulled off a stunning one-run victory over Shreyas Iyer’s India in the second and final T20I, completing a remarkable 2-0 series sweep against the reigning T20 World Cup holders in Belfast on Sunday. The result also brought an end to India’s remarkable unbeaten run of 16 consecutive T20I series. What makes this even more remarkable is that India’s dominant streak had actually begun with a series victory over Ireland back in August 2023 — and now it was the same opposition that brought it crashing down. Chasing 155 in a do-or-die clash, India could only manage 153 for 9. Earlier, debutant Prince Yadav’s impressive figures of 3 for 22 helped India restrict Ireland to 154 for 8, with Arshdeep Singh (2 for 35) and Shivam Dube (2 for 25) also contributing. India had already suffered a 34-run defeat in the series opener. Ireland Claims T20 Series After Repeated Win Over India.
TOSS
India won the toss and chose to field.
PLAYING XI
Ireland:
Tim Tector, Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (w/c), Benjamin Calitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Liam McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys, Jai Moondra, Matthew Hollard
India:
Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (w), Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav
IRELAND
Ireland came out with intent, as Ross Adair hammered two sixes off Arshdeep Singh in the very first over, brushing aside a few early misses with confidence. The pitch offered some extra zip for the pace bowlers, and they made good use of it. Tim Tector was dismissed cheaply, and Arshdeep then sent back Adair—this came shortly after Harshit Rana fumbled a difficult overhead chance while backpedaling from short third man. The seamers maintained firm control, and Ireland closed the Powerplay at 44 for 2, before their momentum slowed further as the field spread.
Debutant Prince Yadav, sharp from the outset, claimed his maiden T20I wicket when Lorcan Tucker misjudged the extra bounce while trying to go big, edging behind to Ishan Kishan — who was keeping wickets ahead of Sanju Samson. Ireland were in trouble at 58 for 3 at the midway point, before Benjamin Calitz shifted gears and took on debutant Suryansh Shedge aggressively, smashing a four and a six. Shedge then overstepped, and Harry Tector launched the resulting free hit towards long off, where Arshdeep palmed it over the boundary—that over cost 22 runs in total.
Tector, who had been relatively subdued at 16 off 22 balls, eventually found his rhythm, though Calitz remained the primary threat during their 65-run partnership, routinely finding the boundary. Shivam Dube then struck twice in quick succession — first inducing Calitz to slice a wide one to sweeper cover, then bowling Gareth Delany with a sharp nip-backer to leave himself on a hat-trick. Iyer tossed him another over, but it went for 13.
A brief rain break interrupted play, after which George Dockrell returned with a six. He was dismissed by Arshdeep in the penultimate over, while Tector went on to reach his fifty. Prince Yadav then delivered a sensational closing over — executing pinpoint yorkers and snapping up two more wickets to finish with an outstanding 3 for 22 on debut.
INDIA
India’s run chase fell apart almost immediately. Jai Moondra struck with his very first delivery, trapping Sanju Samson LBW. In the same over, Abhishek Sharma departed for a golden duck, the victim of an extraordinary catch by Matthew Hollard, who spun around, covered significant ground from short third, and held on while tumbling flat on his back. The misery deepened when Shreyas chopped one onto his stumps to give Moondra a third. Tilak Varma started steadily, but a dreadful mix-up with Ishan Kishan resulted in the latter being run out after Tilak refused a run — leaving India reeling at 35 for 4.
Axar Patel and Tilak began piecing things together before a heavier rain shower halted proceedings for an extended spell. Upon resumption, no target revision was required, though their 40-ball, 39-run partnership was largely boundary-free apart from a leg bye. Both batters rotated strike patiently but struggled against the spin. The stand ended when Axar guided one to the keeper.
The scoring finally picked up in the 13th over after Tim Tector fumbled a straightforward stop. With the required rate climbing past 10, India gathered 19 runs across the next two overs as Tilak cut loose with a boundary and Dube launched one down the ground. However, Liam McCarthy’s tight five-run over heaped the pressure back on, and Dube ultimately holed out to deep square leg off a short ball from Matthew Humphreys.
Humphreys’ 16th over — a miserly two-run effort where he repeatedly drilled the ball in — decisively tilted the match in Ireland’s favour. Tilak’s dismissal, arriving just after he struck the innings’ first six to bring up his half-century, appeared to seal India’s fate. Ireland almost handed Rana a lifeline after dropping a catch, but Shedge added little. With 32 still required off 10 balls, Rana gave the score some respectability by smashing a six and a four.
Oddly, Arshdeep retained the strike off the final ball of the 19th over, leaving India needing 21 from the last six deliveries. Harry Tector was handed the task of finishing the job, and what followed was a frantic over featuring two wides, an above-waist full toss, and a boundary off the inside edge from the free hit. It came down to 8 off the final two balls when Rana swung a full toss to long on, before Prince launched the last delivery over the boundary for six — but it wasn’t enough, and India fell agonisingly short by a single run, ending a storied unbeaten streak.
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.
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