Lorcan Tucker scored a composed half-century and Gareth Delany smashed a quickfire 49 as Ireland posted 182/9 in their first T20I against India in Belfast on Friday. India opted to bowl first after winning the toss, and Harshit Rana led the bowling attack with figures of 3/24, while Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel claimed two wickets each.
Early Wickets Put Ireland on Back Foot
Ireland started aggressively, with Tim Tector hitting the first ball of Arshdeep Singh for a six. Ross Adair followed with two boundaries off Harshit Rana in the next over. However, Rana struck back when Adair top-edged a catch to wicketkeeper Sanju Samson, leaving Ireland at 20/1 in 1.5 overs.
Arshdeep Singh then dismissed dangerous Harry Tector for a three-ball duck, reducing Ireland to 25/2 in three overs. Harshit soon claimed his second wicket, getting Tim Tector caught by captain Shreyas Iyer for 17 off 12 balls (two fours, one six). Ireland slumped to 30/3 in 3.4 overs.
At the end of the powerplay, Ireland were 36/3, with Lorcan Tucker on 4 and Benjamin Calitz unbeaten on 1.
Calitz and Tucker Steady the Innings
Calitz provided some momentum by hitting two sixes off Prasidh Krishna, helping Ireland reach 50 in 6.5 overs. However, Shivam Dube removed Calitz for 15 off 11 balls (two sixes), caught by Krishna, leaving Ireland at 51/4 in 7.1 overs.
Tucker and Gareth Delany then rebuilt the innings, taking Ireland to 68/4 at the halfway mark of 10 overs.
Tucker Reaches Fifty, Delany Ignites Finish
In the 13th over, Tucker collected 16 runs off Axar Patel, including two fours and a six, helping Ireland cross the 100-run mark. Tucker reached his half-century in 35 balls, with five fours and two sixes, before falling to Harshit for a 36-ball 50. The 64-run stand for the fifth wicket ended with Ireland at 115/5 in 14.3 overs.
Delany then took charge, partnering with George Dockrell to add a rapid 49 runs in just 16 balls. Delany hammered Washington Sundar for 19 runs in the 16th over, including two fours and a six. In the next over, he smashed Prasidh Krishna for 27 runs, featuring a four and three consecutive sixes.
Ireland reached 150 in 16.4 overs. Axar Patel ended Dockrell's cameo, catching him off his own bowling for a 10-ball 19 (two fours, one six), leaving Ireland at 164/6 in 17.1 overs.
Delany departed for a well-made 49 off 32 balls, with three fours and three sixes, caught by Axar off Arshdeep Singh. Ireland were 178/7 in 19 overs. Matthew Humphreys was run out on the final ball as Ireland finished at 182/9.
India's Bowling Performance
Harshit Rana (3/24 in four overs), Arshdeep Singh (2/28 in four overs), and Axar Patel (2/33 in four overs) were the standout bowlers for India. Prasidh Krishna struggled, conceding 57 runs in his four overs without taking a wicket.
