Gaikwad, Rinku power India to series victory

Team India produced a dominant performance in the 2nd T20I against Ireland at Malahide to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. A half-century from Ruturaj Gaikwad and some late fireworks from Rinku Singh at the death powered the Men in Blue to a commanding total of 185 before the bowlers restricted Ireland to 152/8 in response with a clinical showing, sealing the series victory for Jasprit Bumrah’s side.

After being put into bat by Ireland, the Indian openers took down Josh Little for 16 runs in the 2nd over but suffered two setbacks as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tilak Varma departed in quick succession. The opener picked out Curtis Campher at deep midwicket while Tilak Varma mistimed a pull shot off his second delivery to reduce India to 34/2.

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson patiently rebuilt India’s innings after the double strike. Gaikwad kept the scoreboard ticking with a flurry of boundaries before Samson took on Josh Little for 18 runs in the 11th over to spur the Indian innings forward. Samson dragged one onto his stumps against Benjamin White to end the 71-run stand, but Gaikwad got to his second T20I half-century by sweeping the leg-spinner through the leg-side for four.

The visitors were primed for a big score with a well-set Gaikwad at the crease, but the opener’s dismissal to start the 16th over caused a temporary blip, with Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube adding just 14 off the next 17 deliveries. However, the left-handed pair made amends for their slow start by adding 42 runs off the final two overs of the innings. Rinku Singh creamed three sixes and a four to finish with a well-made 21-ball 38 in his first outing in international cricket, while Dube added a pair of maximums in the final over to take India to 185/5.

India carried that momentum into their bowling innings as Prasidh Krishna and Ravi Bishnoi combined to pick up three early wickets to leave Ireland in a pickle at 31/3 to end the powerplay. Andrew Balbirnie kept the hosts in the contest by bringing up his 13th T20I fifty, but India continued to chip away at the wickets column to derail their chase.

Ravi Bishnoi dismissed Curtis Campher for 18, while George Dockrell was run-out after a mix-up with Balbirnie. The opener eventually departed for 72, nicking a faint edge to the keeper to signal the end of the Irish effort. The hosts fell short by 33 runs after an economical spell from Jasprit Bumrah at the death closed out the game and the series for India.