Dublin, (UNI) India edged out Ireland by a very thin margin of 2 runs on DLS method against Ireland in the first at The Village here on Friday.
Chasing 140 runs target, India ended at 47/2 in 6.5 overs when rains stopped the match. Ireland were restricted to 139/7, thanks to Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna, who picked two wickets each on their comeback after recovering from prolonged injury.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad played some eye-catching shots, despite the Irish bowlers getting the ball to move in overcast conditions.
Both openers mixed caution with aggression with great precision to ensure India were placed well after the powerplay. But Craig Young came into the act soon after and put Ireland into the match. He picked up two wickets in as many balls.
Young nipped Jaiswal (24 off 23 , 3x4s 1×6) out as captain Paul Stirling ran in from mid-wicket and took a sliced-up catch comfortably. He then had Tilak Varma the very next ball caught by Lorcan Tucker behind the stump, abruptly reducing India to 46/2.
But, the heavens opened up after India added one more run, forcing the players to walk off with India two runs ahead on the DLS.
Some clean hitting from Barry McCarthy who cracked his career best score of 51 not out helped Ireland to post a face-saving 139/7. His innings was strung with four boundaries and as many sixes off 33 balls.
At one stage the hosts were 59/6, but McCarthy (39 0ff 31 3x4s 1×6) rebuilt the innings along with Curtis Campher and stitched a very crucial 57 runs partnership for 7th wicket.
The duo could lineup the Indian pacers as batting became easier after the ball stopped moving around. Jasprit Bumrah who returned to cricket after a prolonged injury claimed two wickets in the first over.
Bumrah’s first wicket of Andrew Balbirnie on his return was a cracker, making a loud statement on his very second delivery that he was never out of action. A length ball outside off swung back ferociously which took the inside edge and knocked down the off pole.
Bumrah scalped his second wicket on his fifth ball after Lorcan Tucker impatiently shimmed inwards to ramp it over Sanju Samson behind the stumps, but got a feeble connection that lobbed right into the keeper’s gloves.
A returning Prasidh Krishna also picked up a couple of wickets, as Ireland played some rather flimsy shots. Ravi Bishnoi’s googlies were too hot to handle and he accounted for the Irish skipper Paul Stirling (11) and Mark Adair (16 off 16).
