NEW DELHI: A dominant India downed a fighting Ireland in the second T20I by 33 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series in Dublin on Sunday.
The victory for Jasprit Bumrah and co. in the second game meant India sealed yet another series against the Irish, making it three in a row -- 2018, 2022 and 2023.
On the other hand, the defeat for Ireland was their seventh in a row in the shortest format against India as their wait for a maiden win continued.
After Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson and Rinku Singh powered India to an imposing 185 for 5, the bowlers, led by Prasidh Krishna fired in unison to hand the visitors a comfortable win.
Here's a look at the key moments of the second T20I.
Powerplay trouble for IndiaAs Ireland opted to bowl after winning the toss, India were in early trouble, losing Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tilak Varma inside the powerplay. After Gaikwad and Jaiswal got off to a decent start, Craig Young provided the hosts with their first breakthrough, removing the latter in the fourth over for 18. Four balls later, in the fifth over, Tilak too got out for 1. However Sanju Samson and Ruturaj ensured there was no further damage in the powerplay as India reached 47/2 after 6 overs.
India seal T20I series win in Ireland
The Ruturaj-Samson standAfter early jitters, opener Ruturaj and experienced Samson got going as the duo stitched a crucial 71-run partnership for the third wicket. Both the batters rotated the strike pretty well while the boundaries followed at regular intervals. Samson, in particular, looked in great touch but fell in the 13th over after chopping a Benjamin White delivery back onto his stumps for 40. By that time, Ruturaj got settled in as he along with Rinku Singh then stitched another partnership. After getting to his second T20I half-century in the 15th over, Ruturaj tried to up the scoring rate but got out in the very next over for 58.
Rinku blitzRinku Singh, who did not get a chance to bat on his T20I debut, initially struggled in the second T20I. As Ruturaj departed Rinku found himself with new partner Shivam Dube in the death overs as the run rate tickled down a bit for India. In the 16th, 17th and 18th over both Rinku and Shivam only managed 14 runs but then out of nowhere both shifted gears. In the last two overs both threw kitchen sink at the Irish bowlers Barry McCarthy and Mark Adair, collecting 42 runs of 12 balls. While Rinku finished with a 21-ball 38, Dube remained not out on 22 as India posted a strong 185 for 5.
Another powerplay fumble from IrelandJust like the series opener, Ireland once again fumbled badly in powerplay. The hosts needed a strong start in the tough chase but faltered again, losing three wickets in the first 6 overs. Opener Andrew Balbirnie did manage a decent start for the hosts but things turned south quickly as Prasidh Krishna, in the third over struck twice, removing Paul Stirling (0) and Lorcan Tucker (0). Leggie Ravi Bishnoi then removed Harry Tector in the sixth over as Ireland reeled to 31/3 in powerplay.
Balbirnie 72 in vainAfter losing three wickets in powerplay, the already tough chase got even tougher for Ireland but Andrew Balbirnie kept the battle on. However his partnerships with Curtis Campher (18), George Dockrell (13), Mark Adair (23) were not significant enough to put India under pressure. As the required rate kept on climbing, Balbirnie waged a lone battle. After Arshdeep Singh removed Balbirnie for 72 in the 16th over, the match heavily tilted in favour of India. The India pacers then choked the lower order batters in the death overs to complete a clinical win.