'I can't quite believe it…': Ireland's skipper Tucker after win over India

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In the second T20I match against Team India, Ireland secured a win by one run at the Stormont Cricket Ground in Belfast.

The win also helped the Irish men to clinch the series by 2-0 against the “Men in Blue”.

Speaking about the victory, Ireland’s skipper Lorcan Tucker said that he challenged his teammates before the second match to show that the win they secured in the first T20I wasn’t a one-off.

“I can’t quite believe it, but absolutely incredible. I think I challenged the lads the other day to show the world that that wasn’t a one-off, that we could do it again, and we were able to do it today,” he said after the match.

The skipper then stated that matches can be won by displaying simple cricket.

“It felt like we were able to close the game out. I think we showed that good cricket can be simple cricket, and it doesn’t always have to be that complicated, especially when you read the conditions well, that you can be effective and you can win games of cricket,” said Tucker.

IND vs IRE 2nd T20I: Match summary

Ireland entered the match having won the first match by a comprehensive margin of 34 runs and also batted well to score 154/8 in the second match despite an impressive three-wicket haul by debutant Prince Yadav.

Chasing 155, India were rocked early as Ireland pacer Jai Moondra struck twice in his opening over, dismissing both Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma for golden ducks. Skipper Shreyas Iyer (10) also fell early to Moondra, while a mix-up led to Ishan Kishan’s run-out as India slumped to 39/4 in five overs.

Batter Tilak Varma offered resistance with a fighting 55 off 46 balls, holding the innings together as wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Axar Patel (14) and Shivam Dube (20) provided brief support, but India struggled as the required rate climbed sharply.

Ireland maintained control through disciplined bowling, with Matt Hollard picking up key wickets in the middle and lower order to finish with 3/26 in 4 overs. India eventually slipped to 121/8 after 18 overs, with the chase effectively out of reach.

Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh added 14 runs in the penultimate over, leaving India needing 20 off the final over to level the series. Ireland captain Harry Tector took the responsibility of bowling the last over, but the contest tightened unexpectedly as he conceded a no-ball and a wide, allowing India to score 12 runs off the first four deliveries. With eight required from the final two balls, Harshit Rana was dismissed on the penultimate delivery, severely denting India’s hopes. Although debutant Prince Yadav struck a six off the last ball, India ultimately fell short by one run, handing Ireland a 2-0 series victory.

Earlier, India produced a disciplined bowling performance to restrict Ireland to 154/8 in 20 overs.

Asked to bowl first after skipper Shreyas Iyer won the toss, India made early inroads as Ireland opener Tim Tector (5) fell in the second over, miscuing a shot off Harshit Rana to mid-wicket, while Ross Adair (16) was removed by Arshdeep Singh (2/35 in 4 overs) soon after, slicing a delivery to extra cover. At the end of the Powerplay, Ireland were placed at 44 for 2.

Prince Yadav, one of India’s debutants, continued the momentum in the middle overs by claiming his maiden T20I wicket, dismissing Lorcan Tucker (15) caught behind to reduce Ireland to 48 for 3. Harry Tector then steadied the innings, forming a crucial 65-run partnership with Benjamin Calitz (37 runs off 23 balls) as Ireland looked to rebuild.

The Irish duo briefly counterattacked, especially targeting debutant Suryansh Shedge, but India regained control through tight bowling. Shivam Dube (2/25 in 3 overs) made the breakthrough in the 15th over, first conceding a six before striking twice in quick succession to remove Calitz (37) and Gareth Delany (0), halting Ireland’s progress at a vital stage.

Axar Patel (0/28 in 4 overs) maintained pressure with a tight spell from his end, while Harry Tector anchored the innings with a composed half-century (53 off 47 balls) before being dismissed by Prince Yadav in the final over. The debutant then finished strongly, claiming another wicket by removing Liam McCarthy to return impressive figures of 3/22 in four overs. However, the Irish tail managed to push the total past the 150-mark before India struck twice in the final six deliveries to complete a disciplined bowling performance.

(With ANI Inputs)

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