India defeated Ireland by a narrow margin in the second and final T20I in Ireland to clean sweep the series 2-0. Ireland batters put on a great show with the bat in both these games but their bowlers lost them the series.
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According to Indian captain Hardik Pandya, opener Ruturaj Gaikwad injured himself ahead of the first T20I and was ruled out. As a result, each of the other players has batted up one place in the lineup for the first T20I. India, however, added Sanju Samson for the second T20I as an opener!
For the record, this was a worthy inclusion as Samson batted brilliantly opening the innings and scoring 77 runs off just 42 deliveries. The highlight, however, in India's innings was Deepak Hooda (104 off 57 deliveries with 9 fours and 6 sixes) who scored a century batting at no.3! For the record, this was only his fifth T20I innings!
Hooda and Samson together stitched a 176-run stand for the second wicket which is also the highest for any wicket for India in T20Is! Overall, India got to a total of 225/7 in 20 overs. On a lighter note, India had three first-ball Ducks down the order, or else the score could have been a little higher!
In reply, the home team batters too wreaked havoc with the bat scoring 221/5 in 20 overs only to lose the game by just a margin of 4 runs! Both the openers collectively contributed 100 runs in just 55 deliveries. There were contributions all the way down their order but India's target was left unbreached in the end!
It was a painful game for bowlers from both teams! Harshal Patel conceded 54 runs from his 4 overs which is the most for any bowlers in this match! Deservingly, Deepak Hooda has been adjudged as the Player of the Match for his superb century with the bat.
Brief Scores: India - 225/7 in 20 overs (Deepak Hooda - 104, Mark Adair - 3/42) defeated Ireland - 221/5 in 20 overs (Andy Balbirnie - 60, Ravi Bishnoi - 1/41) by 4 runs
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