Quickly
Socially
Trending
Crypto
IND beat IRE by 76 runs | India vs Ireland, Highlights And Cricket Score 1st T20I Match - Commentary
India in Ireland, 2 T20I Series, 2018
Date: Jun 27, 2018 Start Time: 20:30 IST | 15:00 GMT | 16:00 LocalVenue: The Village, Malahide, Dublin
Venue: The Village, Malahide, Dublin
Google Trends
India vs Ireland Highlights And Cricket Score 1st Match - T20I Commentary
Okay then! We do not have too big a break. Ireland need 209 to cause an upset. Realistically speaking, they might do well to get to around 160-170, if they can. Stay tuned for the run chase...
Well, Ireland did elect to chase, didn't they? And the Indian openers sent them on a leather-hunting. But one person did stand out while the others were chasing the ball - Peter Chase - He ended up with 4 wickets, 3 of which came in the final over. But he was not economically bad.
The innings was all about the openers - Dhawan and Rohit started cautiously but then teed off with ease. They added 160 in 16 overs before Ireland finally took a catch, after putting two down. Then Rohit, when in a great position to score his third century, missed out. This was where India perhaps lost some steam but ironically, they did score 90 runs from overs 13-19.
Only India will be unhappy with the total they have posted. Not because it is a sub-par total or anything - but just because they were going great guns to post in excess of 225. But somehow, they lost momentum towards the end and have been halted probably 10-15 runs shy.
Peter Chase to Hardik Pandya. SIX! What a way to end the innings! Tremendous wristwork from Hardik Pandya. The ball is pretty full, on middle and Pandya does a Dhoni - brings out the helicopter shot and swings it cleanly down the ground for a biggie! Just 7 runs and 3 wickets from that final over - INDIA FINISH ON 208/5!
Manish Pandey is the last man in... well, assuming that this will be the last ball of the innings.
Peter Chase to Virat Kohli. OUT! Third wicket in the over! Bizarre final over. A length ball outside off, Kohli brings out his best ever flick shot perhaps - but finds deep mid-wicket to perfection! And guess who is the fielder? Who? Who? I shall leave that for the scorecard to display. A duck for the Indian skipper!
Peter Chase to Virat Kohli. No hat-trick. But no wide either. A short ball, down the leg side, Kohli misses out on the pull shot.
Virat Kohli walks in to face the hat-trick ball.
Peter Chase to Rohit Sharma. OUT! Colin Munro's record stays intact. Rohit would have become just the second man, after Munro, to score three centuries in T20Is. A slower ball becomes the undoing of Sharma. Is early into his pull and he misses the ball and it hits the leg stump. That is sad. So near... yet so far. Was within a hit of creating the record but just missed it by a whisker. End of a wonderful innings though.
Hardik Pandya comes in for the final bashing duties...
Peter Chase to MS Dhoni. OUT! Oh well... Dhoni holes out. Rare phenomenon. A short delivery, begging to be hit, outside off, Dhoni provides the alms, throwing his arms and pulls it with all his might - but finds Stuart Thompson at deep mid-wicket!!!
Peter Chase to Rohit Sharma. NEARLY CARRIED! Full and outside off, Rohit hits this uppishly towards mid off and almost finds the fielder there. The ball lands in front. A single taken as it is not stopped cleanly.
Last over - Rohit needs 4. How much will India target? 24?
Boyd Rankin to MS Dhoni. SIX! SLAUGHTERED! A Dhoni special. Full and right in the slot outside off, Dhoni gets underneath this one, brings his bottom hand into play and swings it into oblivion over long off! 14 from the over, 90 off the last 7!
Boyd Rankin to MS Dhoni. A yorker outside off, jammed back to the bowler. A rare good ball.
Boyd Rankin to MS Dhoni. WIDE. Another extra ball. Miles outside off, left alone.
Boyd Rankin to Rohit Sharma. Walks across his stumps and flicks it through mid-wicket for one.
Boyd Rankin to MS Dhoni. Yorker outside off, squeezed through point for a run.
Boyd Rankin to MS Dhoni. FOUR! Gets off the mark in style! A short ball on middle, Dhoni pulls it behind square leg and gets a boundary!
Boyd Rankin to Rohit Sharma. Short and outside off, cut through point for a single.
Peter Chase to Rohit Sharma. The batsman gets to the pitch of the ball and connects. They pick up a single.
Peter Chase to Suresh Raina. OUT! A wicket out of nowhere. Chase bowls it short, around middle, Raina looks to tuck it away but plays this rather uncomfortably. Hits it uppishly and Kevin O'Brien accepts the dolly at deep square leg.
Peter Chase to Suresh Raina. ANOTHER WIDE. The frustration coming out from the bowler. Bangs it way too short, on middle, Suresh ducks.
Peter Chase to Suresh Raina. WIDE. A bit of an afterthought from the umpire. Chase bowls it outside off, chasing the wide guideline and Raina lets it go. The umpire initially stands still before stretching his arms. Peter is not happy.
Peter Chase to Rohit Sharma. It's been driven superbly through the covers. They pick up a single.
Peter Chase to Rohit Sharma. SIX! Stand and deliver. Chase misses the yorker, bowls a low full toss and Rohit just hits probably the best shot of the day - lofting it straight back down the ground for a biggie.
Peter Chase to Suresh Raina. On middle and leg, whipped through mid on for a run.
Peter Chase to Suresh Raina. WIDE. Raina backs away to the leg side and on seeing that, Peter bowls it wide outside off, thinking Suresh will CHASE it. But the southpaw just lets the ball go and it is a wide.
Peter Chase to Rohit Sharma. A length ball on middle, heaved towards deep square leg for a single.
Stuart Thompson to Rohit Sharma. The batsman has lofted it over mid on. One run added to the total.
Stuart Thompson to Rohit Sharma. FOUR! Comes down the track and just sweeps it through mid-wicket for a boundary!
Stuart Thompson to Suresh Raina. Full and outside off, driven through mid off for a run.
Stuart Thompson to Suresh Raina. Misses out on a hat-trick. Gets a full toss outside off, Suresh tries to place it through the covers but simply misses to put bat on ball.
Stuart Thompson to Suresh Raina. FOUR! Better from Raina. Gets to the pitch of the ball and drives it through the covers for consecutive boundaries.
Stuart Thompson to Suresh Raina. FOUR! A streaky shot to begin the innings. A full toss wide outside off, Raina throws his bat at it and gets a thick outside edge which goes behind point to the fence!
Suresh Raina walks in at number 3, replacing Dhawan.
Kevin O'Brien to Shikhar Dhawan. OUT! Stop the press. Ireland have taken a catch. Stop the press after starting it again. STUART THOMPSON has taken a catch. Full and outside off, Dhawan looks to go over the top but mistimes it. The ball goes towards long off and Irish fans might have just closed their eyes on seeing who is underneath it. But this time, Mr. Thompson comes running in and takes a fine diving catch. He then signals towards the crowd in jubilation as to finally having taken one. End of a mammoth opening stand. India are in a terrific position - this is my opinion - there are a few beside me that they are going below par! Such are the standards set by this team. Dhawan well, might consider a century gone abegging.
Kevin O'Brien to Rohit Sharma. Pushes this down to long on for a run.
Kevin O'Brien to Rohit Sharma. FOUR! When you are attending a buffet, you can eat what you want. Only your mother, wife or stomach may not agree though. Your tongue will certainly not mind one bit. Ireland are turning out to be that tongue for India. A high full toss, wide outside off, Sharma flays that hard and gets a top edge. But it sails over the man at short third man into the fence behind.
Kevin O'Brien to Rohit Sharma. DROPPED BY THOMPSON AGAIN! Not having the best of days on the field, is he? Full and outside off, Rohit looks to sweep this but gets a top edge. It should have been taken by at least one of the fielders from long on or deep mid-wicket - the former gets to the ball, dives but puts down the catch once more. Two runs taken.
Kevin O'Brien to Shikhar Dhawan. A yorker outside off, squeezed behind point for a single.
Kevin O'Brien to Shikhar Dhawan. FOUR! Welcome back, mate! Full on middle, Dhawan just chips it over the bowler and gets a boundary down the ground! 150-STAND IS UP, IN 91 BALLS! Dhawan moves to 73 from 43 balls, with his 5th four.
Kevin O'Brien is back on. 2-0-24-0 so far.
George Dockrell to Rohit Sharma. On middle, pushed straight to point.
George Dockrell to Rohit Sharma. SIX! Pay the price now, Ireland. Full and outside off, Rohit gets down and mows it miles over mid-wicket!
George Dockrell to Shikhar Dhawan. Attempts a reverse sweep a month in advance and Dockrell fires it on middle, a full toss and Dhawan just about manages to get it to cover for a run.
George Dockrell to Rohit Sharma. DROPPED! Too casual from the fielder. Rohit backs away and looks to go inside out but does not hit it too cleanly. Finds Stuart Thompson at deep extra cover who should have gobbled that but well, he takes it and the ball plops down. A single taken.
George Dockrell to Shikhar Dhawan. Jumps down the track but the length is much flatter this time and he can only hammer it down to long on for a single.
George Dockrell to Shikhar Dhawan. SIX! SLAP! Dhawan welcomes Dockrell back in style. Jumps down the track and absolutely cobbers it over mid-wicket.
Paul Stirling to Rohit Sharma. FOUR! Better shot. A length ball outside off, Sharma carves it over point for the same result as the previous one.
George Dockrell is back on. 3-0-25-0 so far.
Paul Stirling to Rohit Sharma. FOUR! Finally a full toss is punished. Plenty of width on this one, outside off and Rohit slices it over pint for a boundary. Moves to 62 in 44 balls, with his 6th four, getting past his partner.
Paul Stirling to Shikhar Dhawan. Full and outside off, driven towards long off for one.
Paul Stirling to Rohit Sharma. Full and on off, Roihit looks to play the slog but not quite sure what the ball hits - bottom of the bat or the back of the willow - squirts towards mid on and it is just a run.
Paul Stirling to Rohit Sharma. Another full toss, gets away with that too! This is hit straight to cover.
Paul Stirling to Shikhar Dhawan. Gets away with a rubbish ball. Full toss miles outside off, Dhawan reaches out and slashes hard. Gets a thick outside edge which goes on the bounce to Boyd Rankin at short third man. Just a single. Dhawan moves to 60 from 38 balls.
Kevin O'Brien to Shikhar Dhawan. The batsman has taken the risk and lofted it over the covers. The batsmen have run through for a single.
Kevin O'Brien to Shikhar Dhawan. WIDE. Down the leg side, Shikhar misses out on his pull.
Kevin O'Brien to Shikhar Dhawan. Outside off, a slog and a miss.
Kevin O'Brien to Rohit Sharma. Full and wide outside off, Sharma reaches out and flays it to deep point for a run.
Kevin O'Brien to Rohit Sharma. SIX! SLAM! Someone shouted 'CATCHHHH!' but to whom? That has gone way into the stands. A length ball outside off, Rohit gets down and dumps it somewhere outside the ground near the mid-wicket region.
Kevin O'Brien to Shikhar Dhawan. Drops it short, pulled through mid-wicket for a single.
Kevin O'Brien to Rohit Sharma. SAFE! And a half century for Rohit. His third in succession in T20Is. A bit of a drama though. Full and outside off, Rohit drives it through the covers where the fielder fields and throws it at the stumps at the bowler's end. It is actually a pretty simple single but Rohit collides with the bowler and is in a bit of a strife as the bat is plonked in, instead of being dragged in. However, after being referred upstairs, replays confirm that Rohit is fine. 15th T20I Fifty for Mr. Consistent.
Kevin O'Brien into his second over now. And we have the first signal towards the third umpire in the game. For a run out against Rohit Sharma...
Paul Stirling to Shikhar Dhawan. A full toss wide outside off, Shikhar looks to play the reverse sweep but misses. Strangely, that is not a wide. Agreed that he was shaping to play a reverse but still, the ball was way out of his reach.
Paul Stirling to Rohit Sharma. Full and wide again, outside off, hammered through the covers but straight to Gary Wilson at cover. Only a run.
Paul Stirling to Shikhar Dhawan. Full and wide outside off, smashed through the covers for another single. The stand moves to 110 from 70 balls.
Paul Stirling to Rohit Sharma. Outside off, flayed through point for one.
Paul Stirling to Shikhar Dhawan. Comes down the track, takes it on the full and drives it through the covers for a run.
Paul Stirling to Rohit Sharma. MIX-UP, BUT SAFE! Full and outside off, Rohit drives this through the covers and sets off for a single. Now there is Gary Wilson present, who dives to his left and on seeing that, Dhawan stops. But Rohit is halfway down the track and on seeing his partner, he comes to a halt too. Luckily for India, the ball is not stopped cleanly and eventually, the single is completed.
Paul Stirling now to bowl his offies.
George Dockrell to Rohit Sharma. A slower ball around off, Rohit just bunts it through mid-wicket and gets a run. 12 from the over, 22 off the last 2!
George Dockrell to Shikhar Dhawan. Another shot ball, but SD is already in a position to sweep and gets it towards deep backward square leg for a single.
George Dockrell to Shikhar Dhawan. FOUR! Freebie. A short ball, right in the middle of the pitch, Dhawan just pulls it past sort fine leg.
George Dockrell to Shikhar Dhawan. A tad short, this is a reverse shot attempted from Shikhar but finds backward point.
George Dockrell to Shikhar Dhawan. Works this straight to short fine leg.
George Dockrell to Shikhar Dhawan. SIX! Dhawan wins the race! In the previous over, it did seem like Rohit might get there first but Dhawan has managed to take his Ferrari past the line first. Jumps down the track, gets to the pitch of the ball and flicks it high in the air, getting it over mid-wicket. 7th half century in this format. 100 UP FOR INDIA AS WELL. A double certainly on the cards.
Boyd Rankin to Shikhar Dhawan. On middle and leg, clipped through mid-wicket for one more. 10 from the over, Rankin's figures read 3-0-20-0.
Boyd Rankin to Rohit Sharma. A short ball, pulled with disdain through fine leg for a run.
Boyd Rankin to Rohit Sharma. SIX! Into the crowd! The fifth biggie of the innings. A length ball, following the batsman down the leg side, Rohit just steps away from the stumps and lofts it way over mid off for a biggie! Moves to 44 from 33 balls, threatening to reach the 50-mark before Dhawan.
Boyd Rankin to Shikhar Dhawan. Short and outside off, flayed through point where the fielder gets a hand to it and keeps the batsmen to a run.
Boyd Rankin to Rohit Sharma. Outside off, dabbed to third man for a single.
Boyd Rankin to Rohit Sharma. Slightly slower ball outside off, on a length, driven straight to mid off.
Boyd Rankin is back on. 2-0-10-0 so far.
George Dockrell to Shikhar Dhawan. FOUR! Spoils a good over. Short and wide outside off, Dhawan stays leg side and flays it through the off side - behind point for a boundary. Moves to 42 from 24 balls with his third four.
George Dockrell to Rohit Sharma. A tad short, worked through mid-wicket for one more. The stand is worth 80 from 52 balls.
George Dockrell to Rohit Sharma. Very well bowled. Flighted with very less pace, Rohit can only defend.
George Dockrell to Shikhar Dhawan. A short ball now, dragged to long on for a run.
George Dockrell to Shikhar Dhawan. A reverse shot attempted by Dhawan but he is beaten by lack of pace and is hit on the gloves. There is an LBW appeal which is turned down pretty quickly.
George Dockrell to Rohit Sharma. Outside off, punched through the covers for a single.
Simi Singh to Shikhar Dhawan. LUCKY AGAIN! Dhawan continues to flirt with danger. Full and outside off, slower in pace, Shikhar looks to play the slog sweep but gets a top edge which goes miles in the air. But such is his luck that neither short fine leg nor short third man can get to it before gravity pulls the ball down. Two runs taken.
Simi Singh to Rohit Sharma. Quietly works it through mid-wicket now for a run.
Simi Singh to Rohit Sharma. SIX! HUMONGOUS! He has picked the biggest boundary on the ground, has Rohit. Jumps down the track and whips it miles over mid-wicket. The stand is now worth 74 from 46 balls. Rohit has moved on to 34 from 26 balls.
Simi Singh to Shikhar Dhawan. Just a bit flatter that time, shorter as well, worked through mid-wicket for one.
Simi Singh to Rohit Sharma. On middle and leg, worked through square leg for a run.
Simi Singh to Shikhar Dhawan. Starts off with a straight ball and Dhawan calmly clips it through square leg for a single.
Simi Singh to bowl as well.
George Dockrell to Shikhar Dhawan. Driven towards the mid on region. They pick up a single.
George Dockrell to Rohit Sharma. Fifth single of the over. Clipped through mid-wicket.
George Dockrell to Shikhar Dhawan. Sees Dhawan jump out and bowls a flighted delivery wide outside off and slows down the pace. The southpaw looks to flick and has to drag it, off the inner half of the bat towards deep mid-wicket. One more run to the total.
George Dockrell to Rohit Sharma. Another one. This is clipped through mid-wicket.
George Dockrell to Shikhar Dhawan. On middle and leg, clipped through square leg for a run.
George Dockrell to Rohit Sharma. Full and outside off, eased through the covers for a single. The stand moves to 60 from 37 balls.
Spin time. George Dockrell comes on to bowl.
Peter Chase to Shikhar Dhawan. SIX! What a way to bring up 1000 T20I RUNS AS A PAIR and also end the Powerplay. Full and on middle, Dhawan comes down the track and lofts it way over the sightscreen. INDIA END THE POWERPLAY AT 59/0.
Peter Chase to Shikhar Dhawan. LUCKY ME! First opportunity for the Irish. Shikhar is early into his flick and the ball is pretty wide too, outside off. Takes the leading edge and is skied into the air. Three fielders run after it - Short third man, point and cover - the man from point, Simi Singh, almost gets to it but then stops at the last moment, perhaps sensing that he has company either side and that costs him. The ball lands JUST out of his reach. Two runs taken.
Peter Chase to Shikhar Dhawan. Full and outside off, biffed towards mid off.
Peter Chase to Shikhar Dhawan. ON THE HELMET! First really good ball from the Irish. Shikhar gives the bowler the charge and Chase slips in a quick bouncer. Dhawan is caught hopping, trying to catch up with the pace of Chase but by the time his bat can come down for the pull shot execution, the ball comes through and hits him flush on the headgear. It then deflects towards short third man who has a shy at the striker's end seeing Dhawan out of his crease. The southpaw is in though and is even looking for an overthrow off the deflection. But mid on is there to stop that. Good to see that Shikhar is fine.
Peter Chase to Shikhar Dhawan. Around off and middle, Dhawan looks for a dab and run but stops on seeing the bowler charge in.
Peter Chase to Rohit Sharma. Half volley on middle and leg, flicked through square leg for a single.
Peter Chase is back on.
Kevin O'Brien to Rohit Sharma. Clips it through square leg for a run to retain the strike. 13 from O'Brien's opening over. 50 IS UP FOR INDIA. Yet another 50-run stand for the openers. Not far from registering 1000 runs between themselves in this format.
Kevin O'Brien to Rohit Sharma. FOUR! Short and outside off, Sharma cuts it hard through point and finds the boundary. Ireland bowling way too many bad balls here.
Kevin O'Brien to Rohit Sharma. Outside off, dabbed towards short third man. Wants a single but is sent back.
Kevin O'Brien to Shikhar Dhawan. Now he quietly works this wide of mid on for a brisk run.
Kevin O'Brien to Shikhar Dhawan. SIX! Effortless. A length ball outside off, Dhawan lofts it, again without much fuss and gets it over mid off.
Kevin O'Brien to Rohit Sharma. Outside off, pushed towards point for a single.
Kevin O'Brien to bowl now. Fourth bowler in 5 overs.
Boyd Rankin to Rohit Sharma. Outside off, tapped towards third man for a single.
Boyd Rankin to Rohit Sharma. FOUR! That is a beautiful shot. Not a great ball, a half volley on the pads but even that has to be pushed away. Rohit just flicks it casually over backward square leg and gets a boundary.
Boyd Rankin to Rohit Sharma. The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot.
Boyd Rankin to Rohit Sharma. A slower ball, down the leg side, Sharma misses his flick and is hit on the pads.
Boyd Rankin to Rohit Sharma. FOUR! Not cleanly timed but it will do for India. A length ball wide outside off, Rohit eases it over cover. Does not hit it from the middle of the bat but gets it over the top.
Boyd Rankin to Rohit Sharma. Outside off, tapped towards point.
Change of ends for Boyd Rankin.
Stuart Thompson to Shikhar Dhawan. FOUR! Oh dear... that is literally saying - NO MERCY. Dhawan walks across his stumps well in advance and on seeing that, the bowler bowls it well outside leg. Could have been left alone but Dhawan just pulls it past short fine leg for a boundary.
Stuart Thompson to Shikhar Dhawan. SIX! First of the day! And it has come from the blade of the man who recently scored a century in a session in a Test against Afghanistan. It is a length ball on middle and leg and Dhawan nonchalantly hammers it over mid-wicket.
Stuart Thompson to Rohit Sharma. Outside off, dabbed towards third man but the keeper gets to the ball. However, the batsmen take a quick run.
Stuart Thompson to Rohit Sharma. WIDE. Slips this way down the leg side, Rohit misses his flick.
Stuart Thompson to Shikhar Dhawan. On middle and leg, tucked through square leg for a single.
Stuart Thompson to Shikhar Dhawan. FOUR! PUMMELED! That one look is enough for Dhawan. He just jumps out of the crease and lofts this length ball over mid off. The ball bounces just inside the fence.
Stuart Thompson to Shikhar Dhawan. NEARLY! The slowness in the deck almost gets the better of Dhawan. He is early into pushing this length ball away and very nearly gives a return catch to Thompson. The ball lands just short.
Stuart Thompson comes in to bowl now.
Peter Chase to Rohit Sharma. Full and outside off, watchfully defended. 10 runs from that over.
Peter Chase to Rohit Sharma. FOUR! A bit fortuitous, one can say. Rohit looks to drive but the ball comes in a bit and goes off the inner half of the bat past short fine leg.
Peter Chase to Rohit Sharma. On middle and leg, Sharma looks to work it to the leg side but gets an inside edge towards short mid-wicket. He sets off for a run but on seeing the bowler rush across, Dhawan sends his partner back.
Short fine leg is in place now.
Peter Chase to Rohit Sharma. FOUR LEG BYES! First boundary of the game. Poor ball, way down the leg side, Rohit's pads do a favour on the bowler and keeper by coming in the way. The ball deflects past the diving keeper and races to the fine leg fence.
Peter Chase to Rohit Sharma. Fuller and outside off, watchfully blocked out.
Peter Chase to Rohit Sharma. A full toss to start off, on the pads, easily clipped through mid-wicket for a couple.
Peter Chase it will be from the other end.
Boyd Rankin to Shikhar Dhawan. Back of a length around off, angling away, now SD wants to tap and run but Rohit sends him back. A decent start from Rankin.
Boyd Rankin to Shikhar Dhawan. On a length, around middle and leg, Shikhar defends it back to the bowler.
Boyd Rankin to Shikhar Dhawan. Terrific shot but brilliant fielding. Boyd bowls another half volley outside off, a touch wide and Dhawan cashes in on it. Leans into this one and drives it through cover-point but George Dockrell at cover dives to his right and makes a brilliant stop.
Boyd Rankin to Rohit Sharma. India and Rohit are away. A loose delivery, half volley on the pads, Sharma eases it towards deep mid-wicket for a single.
Boyd Rankin to Rohit Sharma. On middle and leg, pushed towards mid on.
Boyd Rankin to Rohit Sharma. Looks a tacky pitch on first observation. Rankin lands it on a length outside off but the ball barely bounces. Rohit punches it towards cover and sets off for a quick single but Dhawan barely moves. Calmly sends him back.
The national anthems are done and dusted and out come the Indian openers - Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma - to a huge roar from the crowd. Does not matter where the Indian team goes - the support is always pretty big for them. The lanky Boyd Rankin will start off proceedings to Rohit Sharma. Time for the action to commence. Here we go!!!
TEAM NEWS - Surprising? Expected? Hmmm.... let us leave it to the opinions. India have left out Lokesh Rahul and Dinesh Karthik. Manish Pandey is playing. Ahem. Washington Sundar did a 'Glenn McGrath Ashes act of 2005' - rolling over a ball and has injured his ankle. The visitors are going in with two spinners as well, which suggests that they are looking into their own strengths and confidence than at the pitch. Ireland are short of experience any which ways but William Porterfield will be a big miss.
One of the rising stars for Irish cricket - SIMI SINGH - is having a chat with Anjum Chopra. Says that he cannot believe that he is playing for Ireland today. Adds that he grew up watching Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly and his dream WAS to play for India. But now that is not happening, he is happy enough to be playing alongside the likes of MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. On being asked about whom will his family support, Simi chides away, saying that ideally they should be rooting for him but if they are supporting India as well, it will not be that big a deal.
PITCH REPORT - Murali Kartik says that it is nice and warm, before bending over to have a look at the surface. He opines that it is a flat deck, with a decent covering of grass. He adds that it is well rolled out. From where he is standing, he has a look at the leg side and states that it is a 70m boundary. Ends saying that it would be interesting to see if the side winning the toss bats second.
Virat Kohli says that he too wanted to bowl first. Looking at the wicket, he says that considering the grass covering, the ball will come on nicely to the bat. Then stresses that it does not matter whether India bat or bowl first but he would have loved to bowl first. Brushes aside any complacency or rustiness giving the reason that all the Indian players are fresh from a gruelling Indian T20 League. They did practice for a day in London and need not necessarily get a warm-up game or a practice match because they only need to feel the ball on the middle of the bat is his opinion. On his own fitness, Virat says that he was around 70 percent fit a couple of days ago but is fine now.
Mr. Wilson says that it looks like a very good wicket. Also says that it seems like the wicket looks hard underneath, which has influenced the decision. On the lead-up to this series, Gary says that the side is pretty much confident and is looking to challenge the best team in the world.
TOSS - Time for the spin of the coin. New Irish skipper, Gary Wilson spins the coin, HEADS is the call but it is a TAIL. IRELAND OPT TO CHASE.
What are the milestones coming into this match? Being the 10th side to take to T20 cricket, INDIA PLAYS ITS 100TH T20I TODAY - becoming the 7th nation to do so. The other milestone is that of the run machine - Skipper Virat Kohli needs 17 more to join the 2000-club in T20Is, which is currently hogged by two Kiwis - Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill.
WEATHER - You can trust the weather at your own risk, it was said. Well, if the risk was it to be bright and sunny, then it has paid off. The sun is shining ever so brightly and there is not a cloud in the sky - not even a white one, let alone a rainy one. Hopefully, it stays the same for the whole course of the match.
After what can be considered a 'long' break, the Indian players are back in action. In what might be talked about as probably the eagerly awaited contest of the year. A well-oiled Indian unit touring a confident-looking England. It is a vast tour, starting today and going into September. The Asian champs first meet Ireland in a 2-match T20I series in a packed house in Dublin. The match-up suggests that it should not be too much of a worry for India - today or Friday - but in the shortest format of the game, one never knows. Hopefully, we get a good contest and not what has been happening in England. Hello and a warm welcome to the first of 2 T20Is between Ireland and India at Malahide, Dublin.
That is it from the first T20I between Ireland and India. The visitors were way too strong for the Irish but one cannot exactly say that the hosts played well. Perhaps they were nervous and bowled way too many bad balls. The fielding was not at its best either. Batting well - playing against spin did not turn out to be their cup of tea. Do join us on Friday, 29th June, 2018 at 1600 local (1500 GMT) to see if they improve in the second game. Meanwhile, whatever be the format, the clobbering of the Aussie bowlers continues at the hands of the English batsmen. Do catch the one-off T20I in Birmingham. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!
Victorious Indian captain, Virat Kohli puts in a smile and says that he cannot complain with the performance today. Adds that India batted and bowled well and the last over from Ireland was perhaps their best - had that happened earlier, the game could have taken a different turn. Is happy with Rohit and Dhawan and also with the bowlers. Stresses that the plan will be to surprise the opposition - not only Ireland, but also other teams - by being flexible with the top and middle order. Admits that Dinesh Karthik and Lokesh Rahul's exclusion was a tough one but the management has already told them that whoever missed the first game will get a chance in the second. Adds that the reason for this is that many times people come on tours without playing a game so this is a great opportunity for those.
Kuldeep Yadav is the Man Of the Match. Says that this is his first trip to the UK. On the wicket, he says that it was a good one to bat on and he needed to introduce variations in pace, but tried to stick to one line. On being asked about the advice by Chahal, Kuldeep says that they chat a lot in between overs and the leggie's first advice was that the wicket is slow and you need to bowl slower through the air. Admits that the English tour will be a big challenge for him but is confident that he can do well.
Irish skipper, Gary Wilson feels that India played beautifully but what he does take from the game is that his team restricted India in the last few overs. Admits that the Irish batsmen were totally bamboozled by the Indian spinners and no one could read them. On the possible introduction of spin in the Powerplay, Wilson agrees that could have been a possibility but then so much can be done in hindsight. On being asked about the promotion of Simi Singh ahead of himself and Kevin O'Brien, the skipper says that his performance against Netherlands promoted that move where he played spin beautifully.
Yuzvendra Chahal is having a chat with Murali Kartik. The leggie says that it was a good experience. Adds that he could not believe that the ball was turning on this track. But is also disappointed that he went for a few extra runs. On the game itself, Chahal says that this was not the first game on the tour as they had trained hard in England. On bowling to Shannon, Yuzi says that Dhoni guided him a lot based on the batsman's footwork as to how to land the ball and when. On the upcoming English challenge, Chahal is confident and hopeful that India will do well in that series. On the bowling lengths, YC says that he is always instructed to go for wickets - irrespective of the runs given.
For India, it was a good practice match. The openers teed off with total freedom, showing the good touch they were in while all the bowlers barring Hardik bowled exceedingly well. The spinners ruled the roost again - with figures of 8-1-59-7. Awaiting the presentation...
A 76-run win it is to start India's tour of the UK. It was a no-match in the end and was not much hyped either, to be honest. Ireland bowled the first and last overs nicely but then were hammered in the middle. Then with the bat, only James Shannon played an innings of substance making a fine 60. The next highest was one-fifth of Shannon's score - 12 by Stuart Thompson. You can understand how the batting would have been then.
Jasprit Bumrah to Peter Chase. DROPPED! Does not matter in context of the game but the bowler is hurt. Full and outside off, Chase hits it straight back. Bumrah goes low for the catch but the ball bursts through his hands. He is in discomfort and calls for the physio. Seems to have split the webbing. Meanwhile, that ends the game as well.
Jasprit Bumrah to Boyd Rankin. Driven through mid off by the batsman. They pick up a single.
Jasprit Bumrah to Peter Chase. Punches it through the covers for a run.
Jasprit Bumrah to Boyd Rankin. Outside off, Boyd looks to slash but gets a bottom edge down to third man. Just a single.
Jasprit Bumrah to Boyd Rankin. A length ball outside leg, Rankin looks to flick but the ball goes off his pads towards the keeper.
Jasprit Bumrah to Boyd Rankin. A short ball, right at the body, played towards cover.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Boyd Rankin. The batsman works it down the leg side. One run added to the total. Frugal but wicketless is Bhuvi - 4-0-16-0.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Peter Chase. Full and outside off, pushed through the covers for a run.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Boyd Rankin. The batsman has driven it through mid on for a single.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Boyd Rankin. A slower ball outside off, Rankin checks his shot and nearly chips it towards cover.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Boyd Rankin. A short ball outside off, punched straight to cover.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Boyd Rankin. Outside off, Rankin looks to drive it through the covers but misses.
Jasprit Bumrah to Peter Chase. Full and outside off, driven towards mid off.
Jasprit Bumrah to Peter Chase. The batsman was beaten and missed the line of the delivery.
Jasprit Bumrah to Peter Chase. The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot.
Jasprit Bumrah to Peter Chase. On middle and off, pushed straight to mid on.
Jasprit Bumrah to Peter Chase. Outside off, a swing and a miss.
Peter Chase is the last man in.
Jasprit Bumrah to George Dockrell. OUT! Lock, stock and barrel. A perfect yorker at the base of off stump. Dockrell backs away and looks to steer it through the off side but misses.
Hardik Pandya to George Dockrell. The batsman has played it towards mid-wicket. They pick up a single. A better finish for Pandya - 4-0-36-0 - he was 0/33 after 3.
Hardik Pandya to Boyd Rankin. On middle and leg, clipped through mid-wicket for a single.
Hardik Pandya to Boyd Rankin. The batsman was beaten and missed the line of the delivery.
Hardik Pandya to Boyd Rankin. Outside off, a swish and a miss.
Hardik Pandya to George Dockrell. A short delivery which has been pulled away. The batsmen have run through for a single.
Hardik Pandya to George Dockrell. Outside off, Dockrell looks to go inside out but gets a thick inside edge towards Dhoni.
Kuldeep Yadav to Boyd Rankin. Outside off, punched straight to cover. Excellent spell from Kuldeep - 4-1-21-4. His best ever in T20Is.
Boyd Rankin is in at number 10.
Kuldeep Yadav to Stuart Poynter. OUT! Bowled! That is a terrific ball. Kuldeep slows this through the air and Poynter is foxed. He thinks it is a leg spinner but it is a googly. He misses and the ball hits the off stump.
Kuldeep Yadav to Stuart Poynter. Full and around off, swept through mid-wicket for a couple.
Kuldeep Yadav to George Dockrell. Outside off, pushed through point for a single.
Kuldeep Yadav to George Dockrell. SIX! High and handsome! Tossed up outside off, the googly, Dockrell gets underneath this one and sends it sailing over long off!
Into the bowlers now. George Dockrell is the first of them to bat.
Kuldeep Yadav to Stuart Thompson. OUT! And as always, Suds jinxes and there is no spell as a counter-jinx. What a cruel follow. He just observed that the two Stuarts were getting a little partnership and boy, it has been broken. On middle, Thompson comes down the track and swings it towards long on. But cannot clear Hardik Pandya over there.
Hardik Pandya to Stuart Thompson. Now a cracking pull shot is unfurled, with raw power. But straight to deep square leg. Just a single. 10 from the over, Pandya has gone for 33 in his 3!
Hardik Pandya to Stuart Thompson. FOUR! SMOKED! A short ball, around off, Thompson backs away and crashes it through the covers for a boundary!
Hardik Pandya to Stuart Poynter. On middle and leg, worked through mid-wicket for a single.
Hardik Pandya to Stuart Thompson. Outside off, played through the covers for a run. My colleague Suds, who finds something chew in this dish which has already gone stale, informs me that this is the best ever stand between the two Stuarts in T20Is.
Hardik Pandya to Stuart Poynter. The batsman has punched that ball through the off side. The batsmen have run through for a single.
Hardik Pandya to Stuart Poynter. Full and outside off, Poynter chips it wide of cover and past mid off for a couple.
Hardik Pandya is back on. 2-0-23-0 so far.
Kuldeep Yadav to Stuart Poynter. On middle and off, chipped past the bowler towards long on for one.
Kuldeep Yadav to Stuart Thompson. Outside off, Thompson slices it over point for a run.
Kuldeep Yadav to Stuart Thompson. Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a couple.
Kuldeep Yadav to Stuart Poynter. Full and around leg, Poynter attempts a reverse sweep but misses and is hit on the pads. May be going down leg as Kuldeep appeals. A single taken, leg bye signalled. 100 UP FOR IRELAND.
Kuldeep Yadav to Stuart Thompson. ALMOST A CATCH! Thompson comes down the track and hits it down the ground. Kuldeep flies to his left, gets fingertips to it but cannot hang on. A single to long on.
Kuldeep Yadav to Stuart Thompson. Outside off, spinning in, played through the covers for a couple.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Stuart Poynter. The batsman defends it from within the crease.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Stuart Poynter. No hat-trick. Full and wide outside off, Poynter drives it on the bounce to Manish Pandey at cover who celebrates, claiming a catch. But then... it is not...just fooling around.
Stuart Poynter comes in to face the hat-trick ball...
Yuzvendra Chahal to Gary Wilson. OUT! Another stumping. Chahal is on a hat-trick now. Senses that Wilson is ready to come down the track and throws this slowly outside off and keeps it wide. Gary comes down the track looks to slog but is nowhere near the pitch of the ball. Misses. Dhoni doesn't.
Stuart Thompson is the new man in at number 7 to join the procession.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Kevin O'Brien. OUT! Taken this time. Tossed up around off, O'Brien steps to the leg side and attempts a slog but gets a top edge which goes miles in the air. Does not have the distance. Shikhar Dhawan covers a lot of distance though, from long off to his right but takes it calmly.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Kevin O'Brien. Full and wide outside off, Kevin looks to go big again but has to reach it. Toe-ends it over cover and gets a couple.
Oh well... they have lost the ball. A replacement is being provided...
Yuzvendra Chahal to Kevin O'Brien. SIX! SMASH! Floated outside off, O'Brien swings with all his might and gets it all the way over the sightscreen!
Kuldeep Yadav to Kevin O'Brien. Driven through mid off by the batsman. They pick up a single.
Kuldeep Yadav to Gary Wilson. On middle and leg, flicked away for a run.
Kuldeep Yadav to Kevin O'Brien. Played through mid-wicket by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single.
Kevin O'Brien walks in at number 6, replacing Shannon.
Kuldeep Yadav to James Shannon. OUT! Finally an LBW shout has met with a positive response. This looked way too dead to be ruled out alive. Kuldeep keeps this very straight and Shannon attempts a cute paddle. He misses and is hit right in front of the sticks. Up goes the umpire's finger on the appeal. Very well played, James. Albeit he was dropped twice...
Kuldeep Yadav to Gary Wilson. On middle, reverse swept towards short third man for a run.
Kuldeep Yadav to James Shannon. Outside off, swept powerfully through mid-wicket for a single. Shannon moves to 60 from 34 balls.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Gary Wilson. A long hop, cut through point for a couple.
Yuzvendra Chahal to James Shannon. Short and outside off, crashed through point for one.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Gary Wilson. Tossed up once more, Gary plays this inside out over cover for a run.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Gary Wilson. Outside off, Wilson waits for the ball to come to him and cuts it uppishly toward point.
Yuzvendra Chahal to James Shannon. Shorter, outside off, flayed through the covers for a single.
Yuzvendra Chahal to James Shannon. SIX! Another brilliant stroke. Tossed up on middle, Shannon just flicks it with ease over square leg!
Kuldeep Yadav to Gary Wilson. Another sweep shot attempted, another LBW shout but not given. Missing the off stump.
Kuldeep Yadav to Gary Wilson. Full and on middle, Wilson looks to sweep but misses and is hit on the pads.
Kuldeep Yadav to Gary Wilson. Pitched outside leg, Wilson attempts an ambitious reverse sweep on his very first ball but misses. No wide signalled because he was attempting the reverse.
Captain Gary Wilson walks in now.
Kuldeep Yadav to Simi Singh. OUT! Easy peasy. Simil never looked comfortable against spin and has eventually been relieved of his misery. Full on middle, Singh looks to flick but is beaten by the lack of pace and the turn on that. Gets a leading edge which goes straight to Virat Kohli at short extra cover.
Kuldeep Yadav to Simi Singh. Pitched outside leg, Singh looks to sweep but misses and is hit on the pads. Kuldeep appeals but gets no support from any of his mates.
Kuldeep Yadav to Simi Singh. Full and down the leg side, Simi comes down the track, is nowhere near the pitch of the ball and somehow plonks his bat. The ball hits his glove and rolls to the leg side.
Kuldeep Yadav into the attack now, making it spin from both ends.
Yuzvendra Chahal to James Shannon. Short and outside off, cut straight to point. It was uppish but the fielder diving in could not quite catch it.
Yuzvendra Chahal to James Shannon. MAIDEN T20I FIFTY for Shannon! In just 29 balls. Not a bad speed. Full and on middle, James just works it through mid-wicket and gets across for the single. Then takes the second as well.
Yuzvendra Chahal to James Shannon. SIX! STUPENDOUS! Full and outside off, Shannon gets down and mows it over mid-wicket for a biggie!
Yuzvendra Chahal to Simi Singh. Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a run.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Simi Singh. Floated again outside off, Simi looks to slog but misses.
Yuzvendra Chahal to James Shannon. Tossed up outside off, whipped towards deep mid-wicket for a single.
Hardik Pandya to Simi Singh. FOUR! Short and wide outside off, Simi crashes it through point and gets a boundary! 10 from the over. Pandya's figures read 2-0-23-0.
Hardik Pandya to Simi Singh. The batsman goes for the pull but misses it completely.
Hardik Pandya to James Shannon. Oh my my... how do I describe that? I shall try. A length ball outside off, Shannon walks down the track, looks to flick but is caught in no man's land. Tries to maneuver the shot but then gets a fine leading edge to third man. A run taken.
Hardik Pandya to James Shannon. FOUR! Down the leg side, Shannon tickles it to the fine leg fence!
Hardik Pandya to Simi Singh. A short ball, pulled away for a single.
Hardik Pandya to Simi Singh. Outside off, defended watchfully.
Hardik Pandya is back on.
Yuzvendra Chahal to James Shannon. That looks plumb but the umpire does not agree. The googly outside off, James gets a big stride across and looks to sweep but misses. He is hit on the pads and the Indians go up in an appeal. But the umpire stays put. No DRS in this series. However, we do get the benefit of the Hawk Eye which shows the impact to be in line and the ball crashing into the stumps. India will feel robbed of a wicket there.
Yuzvendra Chahal to James Shannon. Full and outside off, slogged towards deep mid-wicket for a run.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Simi Singh. Full and outside off, Simi gets down and sweeps it towards backward square leg for a single to get off the mark.
Simi Singh walks in at number 4, replacing Balbirnie.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Andy Balbirnie. OUT! Oh Dhoni could have waited till India's next match and then whipped off the bails - he had so much time. Flighted smartly outside off, Balbirnie takes off for a stroll in the park but in the next second, is sent out of the park. He misses his swipe and his attendance is not recorded for the shot. Dhoni collects and whips off the bails with ages of time.
Yuzvendra Chahal to James Shannon. Fullish and outside off, Shannon sweeps it through square leg for a run.
Yuzvendra Chahal to Andy Balbirnie. Short and outside off, flayed through point for a single.
Spin time. Yuzvendra Chahal into the attack.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to James Shannon. FOUR! Short and wide outside off, Shannon takes full toll and crashes it over point for a boundary.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Andy Balbirnie. The batsman has played it towards mid-wicket. One run added to the total.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Andy Balbirnie. Looks to flick but misses and is hit on the thigh pads.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to James Shannon. Outside off, steered to short third man for a run.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Andy Balbirnie. Played to the point region by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Andy Balbirnie. OUCH! On the helmet! Balbirnie is in pain and Shannon, along with Rohit, call for the physio. A length ball outside off, Balbirnie gets across to paddle but the ball hits the top edge and then onto the grille of the helmet. The headgear falls off and for a second it looks a very frightening sight. But thankfully he is okay and ready to continue.
Change of ends for Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Hardik Pandya to James Shannon. SIX! What a shot! A length ball outside off, Shannon flick-whips this beautifully and gets it all the way over mid-wicket!!! 13 from Pandya's opener...
Hardik Pandya to Andy Balbirnie. The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single.
Hardik Pandya to Andy Balbirnie. FOUR! Terrific shot. A length ball, outside off, Balbirnie pulls it with total control behind square leg. The fielder in the deep dives but in vain.
Hardik Pandya to James Shannon. That ball has taken the inside edge onto the pads. They pick up a single.
Hardik Pandya to James Shannon. A short ball, Balbirnie looks to pull but misses and gets a glove on the way to Dhoni.
Hardik Pandya to Andy Balbirnie. Around off, defended watchfully.
First change for India. Hardik Pandya is the bowler.
Jasprit Bumrah to Andy Balbirnie. Punches it down to long on for a run.
Jasprit Bumrah to Andy Balbirnie. A short ball again, Balbirnie looks to cut but misses.
Jasprit Bumrah to Andy Balbirnie. The batsman has attempted to put bat on ball - but fails.
Jasprit Bumrah to James Shannon. DROPPED! Really casual attempt from Rohit. A short ball, outside off, Shannon looks to pull but is done in by the extra bounce. Gets a top edge which goes miles in the air. Rohit Sharma comes in from short mid-wicket, gets underneath it, takes the catch but somehow, don't know how, puts it down. A single taken.
Jasprit Bumrah to James Shannon. The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot.
Jasprit Bumrah to James Shannon. FOUR! A bit of an ugly heave but it will do. A short ball, down the leg side, Shannon heaves but the ball goes off the inner half of the bat through fine leg. Beats the man in the ring.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Andy Balbirnie. Defended off the back foot by the batsman.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to James Shannon. Driven towards the mid on region. They pick up a single.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to James Shannon. On middle and leg, pulled towards mid on.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to James Shannon. Short and outside off, Shannon looks to cut but gets a bottom edge which does not carry to Dhoni!
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to James Shannon. CHANCE OF A CATCH MISSED! Chahal is smiling. Kohli will not be. A length ball on middle, Shannon looks to flick but gets a massive leading edge. It should have been taken by normal fielding standards but Yuzvendra Chahal loses it in the sky and is late to react. Ends up diving away from the ball. Two runs taken.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Andy Balbirnie. A length ball down the leg side, Balbirnie misses his flick and gets hit on the pads. They take the single but the umpire does not give any signal. Must have been an inside edge.
Jasprit Bumrah to James Shannon. FOUR! Edge and away! But Ireland won't mind, runs in any form are welcome. Length ball outside off, Shannon throws his bat at it and then gets a thick edge through the vacant slip cordon for another boundary.
Jasprit Bumrah to James Shannon. FOUR! Back of a length a bit too straight in line, Shannon picks it up early and pulls it over backward square leg for a boundary.
Jasprit Bumrah to James Shannon. Wide! Down the leg side, wide called by the umpire.
Jasprit Bumrah to James Shannon. Bit shout for a leg before, but it's turned down! Looks really, really close to the naked eye, but there's an inside edge there which saves Shannon. Length ball in line of the stumps, the batsman looks to flick it away but is caught on the pads. Bumrah turns and appeals, so do the rest of the Indian players, but the umpire remains unmoved. Replays show there was an edge. Good call.
Jasprit Bumrah to James Shannon. Back of a length just outside off, stays back and defends it solidly.
Andy Balbirnie walks in at no.3.
Jasprit Bumrah to Paul Stirling. OUT! Got 'em! First wicket down for Ireland and it's of the dangerous Paul Stirling. Short ball banged in from Bumrah, Stirling goes for the big pull but gets a top edge which lobs over the bowler. Kuldeep from mid on comes running to his left and takes a safe catch. Early breakthrough for India.
Jasprit Bumrah to James Shannon. The batsman defends it from within the crease. One run added to the total.
Jasprit Bumrah to bowl from the other end.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Paul Stirling. Fired in full, just outside off, Stirling attempts to play the paddle sweep but gets rapped on the pads.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to James Shannon. Full and angling in, catches Shannon on the pads as he misses his flick. Leg bye taken.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to James Shannon. Dropped! A chance which was difficult, but one you'd expect someone like Hardik Pandya to take. Full and slow on off, Shannon looks to loft it over the leg side but gets a big leading edge towards mid off. Pandya there runs behind, gets his hands to it but can't keep a hold of it. Single taken. The batsmen had actually run two, but the umpire ruled one run less as the batsman was short while planting his bat for the first one.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to James Shannon. On a similar length, another defensive shot presented by the batsman.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to James Shannon. Just behind a length, on off stump, Shannon places himself right behind the line of that and keeps it out.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Paul Stirling. Good length delivery in the channel outside off, Stirling gets a leading edge down to third man as he closes the face too early. Single results.
We are back for the chase. James Shannon and Paul Stirling will open the innings for Ireland, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar takes the new ball first up for India. Here we go...