Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad led India to victory in the first match of the T20 series at Malahide.

DAILY WEB DESK 📩: dailymalayalyinfo@gmail.com August 19, 2023 0

Heavy rain left Ireland frustrated in their curtailed T20I opener against India at Malahide, suffering a narrow two-run loss via the DLS method, despite Craig Young’s two wickets in two balls right before showers forced play to be suspended.

Jasprit Bumrah marked his first international appearance in 11 months with a couple of wickets and Prasidh Krishna and Ravi Bishnoi also took a couple of dismissals apiece for a mainly second-string India, although they were blunted by Barry McCarthy’s belligerent 51 not out from just 33 balls.

Batting at number eight, McCarthy flayed four fours and as many sixes, two off the last two legal deliveries of the innings from Arshdeep Singh, who conceded 22 runs in his last over.

McCarthy’s belligerence helped Ireland to 139 for seven but Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad showed intent against Ireland’s quicks. Jaiswal ended the powerplay with a huge pull off Josh Little for six.

That would prove crucial after Young brought false strokes out of Jaiswal for 24 and Tilak Varma in successive deliveries which seemed to bring Ireland back into the contest.

However, the heavens opened two balls later with India’s 47 for two, with Gaikwad unbeaten on 16, just ahead of par on Duckworth-Lewis-Stern as they took a 1-0 lead in a series that resumes on Sunday.

Now THAT is how you end an innings and bring up your maiden T20I half century.

Well done Barry McCarthy.

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— Cricket Ireland (@cricketireland) August 18, 2023

it was too heavy to continue, and covers were brought out onto the pitch. As the rain turned into a deluge, play was unable to resume, giving India a two-run victory via the DLS method. It was a frustrating end to the game for the hosts after two pieces of individual genius right before the halt.

The second T20I will begin on Sunday, August 20, at 3pm local time.