Ireland scripted one of the biggest victories in their cricketing history on Sunday, edging past reigning T20 World Cup champions India by one run in the second T20I to complete a sensational 2-0 series sweep at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont.The triumph marked Ireland’s first-ever bilateral series win over India and brought an end to the visitors’ remarkable run of 16 successive T20I series victories, a streak that had stretched back to 2023. Despite being without five regular first-choice players, Lorcan Tucker’s side delivered two disciplined performances to outplay the Asian giants in both matches. India’s chase of 155 was held together by Tilak Varma, whose fifty kept the contest alive until the closing stages. However, Jai Moondra’s blistering opening spell, followed by composed death bowling from the Irish attack, proved decisive as the hosts successfully defended a modest total.Ireland’s bowling unit once again stood out across the series, with Moondra and Matthew Hollard claiming three wickets apiece in the second game. For India, the defeat exposed familiar issues, particularly their struggles against left-arm pace and adapting to conditions outside the IPL.The chase unravelled almost immediately. Moondra struck twice in his opening over to remove both Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma for first-ball ducks. Samson, was trapped lbw after missing a flick to a skiddy delivery. Two balls later, Abhishek miscued a short ball and was caught at third man.India’s troubles deepened when captain Shreyas Iyer chopped one back onto his stumps off Moondra after scoring 10. Ishan Kishan attempted to rebuild alongside Tilak Varma, but confusion between the wickets resulted in a run-out for 12. With the scoreboard reading 39 for 4 inside the Powerplay, India had lost four wickets within the first six overs for only the 13th time in T20I history.Varma responded with composure, finding successive boundaries off Moondra through the leg side before sharing a 32-run partnership with Axar Patel to steady the innings. A brief rain interruption disrupted play, but the pair ensured India remained in the contest despite the required rate continuing to climb.Ireland struck again after the restart when Matthew Hollard dismissed Axar Patel. Attempting to guide the ball, Axar instead found Lorcan Tucker, who completed a brilliant diving one-handed catch to his left behind the stumps.Shivam Dube briefly injected momentum with a pair of boundaries before holing out to deep square leg off Matthew Humphreys. Varma, meanwhile, continued to anchor the innings and reached his half-century in 45 balls by launching India’s first six of the innings, sending Hollard over deep mid-wicket.His stay, however, ended immediately afterwards. Looking to clear the infield again, Varma mistimed a lofted drive to extra cover, while debutant Suryansh Shedge soon followed after failing to clear the larger boundary and being caught at deep mid-wicket.Harshit Rana then launched a late counterattack to keep India’s hopes alive. He drove Moondra through point for four before clearing long-on with a six to drag the equation down to 20 required from the final over. Rana added another boundary from a free hit after the ball evaded the wicketkeeper, while Harry Tector conceded two wides to raise India’s hopes.However, Tector held his nerve when it mattered most, inducing Rana to hole out to long-on. Prince Yadav struck a six off the final delivery, but India ultimately finished on 153 for 9, falling agonisingly short by a single run.Earlier, Ireland recovered from an uncertain start to post 154 for 8 after being asked to bat first. Harry Tector anchored the innings with 53, while Ben Calitz contributed a valuable 37. Debutant Prince Yadav impressed with figures of 3 for 22, and Shivam Dube chipped in with 2 for 25.Brief Scores: Ireland 154/8 in 20 overs (Harry Tector 53, Ben Calitz 37; Prince Yadav 3-22, Shivam Dube 2-25) beat India 153/9 in 20 overs (Tilak Varma 55, Harshit Rana 21; Matthew Hollard 3-26, Jai Moondra 3-32) by one run.
