Dublin, June 27:
India set themselves up nicely for the sterner tests ahead with a dominant performance as they outclassed Ireland by a whopping 76 runs in the opening T20 International, here today.
Dubbed as dress rehearsal for the marquee England series, the formidable Indian team outbatted the opposition scoring an imposing 208 for five, courtesy openers Rohit Sharma (97 off 61 balls) and Shikhar Dhawan (74 off 45 balls).
In reply, Ireland could only manage 132/9 in 20 overs despite a breezy innings of 60 off 35 balls by opener James Shannon.
Irish batsmen didn’t have a clue how to play chinaman Kuldeep Yadav (4/21 in 4 overs). His partner in crime Yuzvendra Chahal was hit for four sixes but eventually ended with improved figures of 3 for 38 in his four over spell.
As Kuldeep-Chahal ran through the top and middle-order, the rest of the batsmen were incapable of making a match of it. Such was their plight that save Shannon, none of the other home team batsman scored above 15.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (0/16 in 4 overs) and Jasprit Bumrah (2/19 in 4 overs) were as usual steady at the start and effective at the death.
However a lot of credit should once again go to Rohit, who missed out on a well-deserved third T20 international century. The Indian vice-captain made amends for his poor IPL form with a breathtaking innings in company of an in-form Dhawan, who was also keen to send the bowlers in a leatherhunt. (Agenices)
SCOREBOARD
India Innings:
RG Sharma b Chase 97
S Dhawan c Thompson b O’Brien 74
SK Raina c O’Brien b Chase 10
MS Dhoni c Thompson b Chase 11
HH Pandya not out 6
V Kohli c Thompson b Chase 0
MK Pandey not out 0
Extras: (LB-4, W-6) 10
Total: (For 5 wickets, 20 Overs) 208
Bowling: WB Rankin 4-0-34-0, PKD Chase 4-0-35-4, SR Thompson 2-0-31-0, KJ O’Brien 3-0-36-1, GH Dockrell 4-0-40-0, Simi Singh 1-0-12-0, PR Stirling 2-0-16-0.
IrelandInnings
P Stirling c Kuldeep b Bumrah 1
J Shannon lbw Kuldeep 60
A Balbirnie st Dhoni b Chahal 11
S Singh c Kohli b Kuldeep 7
G Wilson st Dhoni b Chahal 5
K O’Brien c Dhawan b Chahal 10
S Thompson c Pandya b Kuldeep 12
S Poynter b Kuldeep 7
G Dockrell b Bumrah 9
B Rankin not out 5
P Chase not out 2
Extras (lb-2, w-1) 3
Total (For 9 wkts, 20 Ov) 132
Bowler: Bhuvneshwar 4-0-16-0, Bumrah 4-1-19-2, Pandya 4-0-36-0, Chahal 4-0-38-3, Kuldeep 4-1-21-4.
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