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The India National Cricket Team faced the Ireland National Cricket Team in the second and final T20I match at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont, Belfast, Ireland. Lorcan Tucker’s side created history, defeating Shreyas Iyer’s India by one run and sealing the series 2-0. Jai Moondra’s heroics handed India the first series loss for the Men in Blue side after three years.
Shreyas Iyer will be furious with the way the team has played in the series, marking a black spot on his captaincy debut series as he lost his first series. The Men in Blue captain won the toss and opted to field first yet again, making a couple of changes, Suryansh Shedge and Prince Yadav getting their maiden T20I caps. Ireland played the same team from their win in the first match.
Prince Yadav shines on debut
Ireland made a promising start after being assigned to bat first, but Harshit Rana picked the first wicket, dismissing Tim Tector for only five runs. Arshdeep Singh selected the dangerous-looking Ross Adair for 16 runs. Tucker did not stay much at the crease and was out on 15 runs. Then, a great partnership between Harry Tector and Ben Calitz produced 65 runs from 43 deliveries.
Calitz was back for 37 runs, and Shivam Dube has been the golden man for the side as he picked the wicket, dismissing Gareth Delany for a golden duck. After the two wickets. Harry Tector went back for 53 runs as Ireland finished off with 154/8. Prince Yadav shone on debut as he picked 3/22 in his four overs.
Jai Moondra dismantles India batters
While chasing Shreyas Iyer’s side had the worst possible start as openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma were dismissed in the first over, with Jai Moondra picking up the wickets in the first over, dismissing both openers for a duck. The left-arm pacer bowled really well and finished off the spell with 3/32 in his four overs.
Tilak Varma scored 56 runs, and small contributions from Shivam Dube and 21 runs from Harshit Rana kept the visitors in the game. But in the end, the Irish team sealed the match, winning it in the final ball of the last over and handing an upset to the Men in Blue side.
"Credit to team members and management"- Jai Moondra credits team after POTM performance
Jai Moondra also won the Player of the Series by picking 5 wickets. After winning the award, he stated that it is an amazing feeling and lauded the team and also the management for backing him as well. It has not sunk in for the left-arm India-born pace bowler, who dismantled the Indian batting order.
Jai Moondra stated, "[On winning the Player of the Series award after just two international matches] Still trying to sink in the feeling. I know it’s hard to describe in one word. It’s an amazing feeling playing against the best, testing yourself. So just doing the basic for longer, that was the plan. Credit to team members and management. Keep it simple."
"There are gonna be tough times, but keep calm and composed and do your thing. [On the setbacks he overcame] Well, everyone have ups and downs, so you just have to hang in there and keep going through that. Nothing more. [On how Ireland have made him feel] Well, they made feel it was like one of them, like nothing different from that."
Jai Moondra further added, "It was playing amazing, good environment, good people. So just doing the duty they have given to me. [On his mindset when bowling to Sanju Samson] Just keep it simple, do what you have been doing. It’s gonna be tough, little margin for error. So just keep what you have been doing and just stick to the plan. Oh, I’m still trying to process it."
