Dublin: Exceptional batting from Deepak Hooda and Hardik Pandya helped India beat Ireland in the first of the two-match T20 series by 7 wickets here on Sunday.
Pandya and Hooda took India home with 16 balls remaining in a rain-hit 12-over match. Hooda remained unbeaten on 47 off 29 balls as he hammered 6 boundaries and 2 sixes.
India reigned the whole match except when they lost the belligerent Ishan Kishan and Suraya Kumar Yadav off consecutive balls. Ishan scored 26 off 11 balls with 3 boundaries and 2 sixes.
Sent in to bat, Ireland posted 108 in 12 overs after they were in spot of bother when they were reduced to 22 for 3 inside four overs.
Harry Tector hammered an unbeaten 64 off 33 balls, an innings studded with 6 boundaries and 3 sixes.
For India, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Pandya, Avesh Khan and Yuzuvendra Chahal, picked up one wicket each.
Young pace sensation Umran Malik received his debut cap and became the 98th player to represent India in the shortest format of the game. But he went wicketless and conceded 14 runs in just one over that he bowled.
Brief scores:
Ireland: 108 for 4 in 12 overs (Harry Tector 64 not out; Bhuvneshwar Kumar 1/16, Yuzvendra Chahal 1/11).
India: 111 for 3 in 9.2 overs (Deepak Hooda 47 not out; Craig Young 2/18). (UNI)
