Deepak Hooda’s maiden T20I century powers India to a thrilling win against Ireland in 2nd T20I

India completed a 2-0 whitewash over Ireland on Tuesday as the visitors rode on Deepak Hooda’s maiden T20I ton and an exhilarating final over from youngster Umran Malik to register a thrilling four-run victory in Malahide.

Skipper Hardik Pandya got lucky with the toss for the second time in the series as he won it and opted to bat first. India didn’t get off to the kind of start they wanted as they lost an in-form Ishan Kishan with just 13 runs on the board. However, what followed next was absolute carnage from both ends.

There was no respite for the Irish bowlers once Deepak Hooda joined Sanju Samson, who replaced an injured Ruturaj Gaikwad in this match, at the crease. The duo showed great intent as they started smashing the bowlers to all parts of the ground.

Both batters got to their maiden T20I fifties eventually and just kept going on and on. Their partnership came to an end when Samson got cleaned up by Mark Adair for a well-made 77 off just 42 deliveries in the 17th over of the innings. They had done enough damage to Ireland by then and their stand of 176 runs broke the record for the highest partnership for India in T20Is.

Hooda, however, kept going at a relentless pace and brought up his century soon. He got to the landmark off just 55 deliveries and his innings consisted of nine fours and four sixes. His innings came to an end when Joshua Little had him caught at backward point for 104. The Indian lower-order couldn’t contribute much but the visitors still posted a daunting total of 225/7 on the board.

It looked like an uphill task for Ireland against a quality Indian bowling attack. But they didn’t give up either. Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbirnie took the attack on to the Indian bowlers and posted 72 runs in the powerplay itself. But India got themselves back into the match with two quick wickets of Stirling, who departed for an 18-ball 40, and Gareth Delaney (0).

Harry Tector, who scored an unbeaten 64 in the first T20I, joined Balbirnie at the crease next and they put on another 44 runs in quick time. Balbirnie was going well but he perished for a 37-ball 60, trying to hit Harshal Patel for a six. Lorcan Tucker joined Tector at the crease but he didn’t last long as he departed for a contribution of just five runs to Ireland’s total.

But things changed once George Dockrell arrived at the crease. He started smashing the Indian bowlers from the word go and put on 47 runs with Tector. They were going great but Bhuvneshwar Kumar had Tector caught at long on in the 18th over. The momentum was in India’s favour as Bhuvneshwar conceded just seven runs in that over. But Dockrell and Adair put on a hitting masterclass and kept India under pressure right until the last ball of the innings.

Pandy entrusted youngster Umran Malik with the job of bowling the last over. Although he bowled one no-ball, he got the other deliveries right on the money. A perfect yorker in the penultimate delivery of the innings was probably what won India the match. Ireland required six to win off the last delivery and all they could manage was a single off it. As a result, India won by four runs. Deepak Hooda was adjudged both Player of the Match and Player of the Series for his superb performance.

Brief Scores:

India 225/7 in 20 overs (Hooda 104, Samson 77; Adair 3/42) beat Ireland 221/5 in 20 overs (Balbirnie 60, Stirling 40; Bishnoi 1/41) by four runs.