5.20pm Oh my, what a day, what a match. I am sure the Irish lads are going to go off to celebrate, and rightly so. This is one of the most significant results in their cricketing history. But they will also be pumped to return on Sunday and get the job again. But, they should also expect India to come back doubly determined to make amends after they failed to capitalise on the advantages they created for themselves. Should be a cracker of a second game of the series. And for today, it's been great fun calling this, but it's time to say goodbye. On behalf of Sudarshanan, Thilak and Harshith, it's Abhimanyu signing off.
5.11pm Time for the presentation ceremony.
Lorcan Tucker: "It was pretty special that. We scrapped through the game, we had some tough periods, but we we stuck to it, we were diligent. I think India bowled really well at the start. They bowled good lengths. We found it challenging to hit good shots. It was like a Test match for a bit. I think it's pretty special to beat the world champions at home. Credit to the lads. All the work behind the scenes from Cricket Ireland. (On the debutants) I think they were really dogged. We learned from what India were bowling. And they showed great ability to keep hitting the right spots. (On Sunday) A series win against India at home would be special. The lads can't wait to come back here."
Shreyas Iyer: "Initially, the bowlers were bowling venom. But in between we lost the execution and let them hit us straight down the ground, where the boundaries are smaller. I thought 140 would have been a good score to chase, given the start we had with the ball. But yeah, great start as a captain (laughs). Definitely, we are going to forget what happened and there's lot to learn from this game. Going to come out all guns blazing in the next game. [The fast bowlers] were getting help at the start, and Shivam bowls crucial overs so I always trust him. Harshit Rana bowled phenomenally well, coming back from injury. (Message to the team) You can't take anything for granted. You have to turn up and work hard and stay in the present and if you have the opportunity to squeeze the opponent, you have to do that."
The debutant Matt Hollard is the POTM! Here's what he has to say: "In all honesty, I never expected this. I always knew I had it, but I never thought I'd make my debut against India. It's a dream come true. My family has flown in from Jo'burg. It's a bit of a dream. [On when the ball went up in the air off his first ball] After that first ball, I turned to Harry and said 'The first one's done'. And then when the ball went in the air, my heart just stopped for the moment. Really, really special. I have really been wanting to come over to Ireland since 2019. Then Covid hit and there were complications. There were setbacks from me. My brother came here first and said you have to come over. And then Cricket Ireland have been amazing in how they took care of me. [On his family] I haven't seen them in a while and to see them over here, nothing could be better. Them seeing me get my cap and then cheering me on, it's unbelievable."
Some stats from Sampath as we wait for the presentation ceremony: Last three men's T20 World Cup champions lost the immediate T20I they played.
2022 - England (vs Bangladesh in 2023) 2024 - India (vs Zimbabwe in 2024) 2026 - India (vs Ireland in 2026)
faisal: "We keep getting told that India have three or four teams that could beat anyone in the world, why didn't they send one of them to Belfast….? "
5.05pm Ireland came into this game with a handful of first-choice bowlers out with injury. Against an Indian batting unit known for smashing 200-plus totals for fun. Ireland lost the toss, and were 51 for 4. But they fought back from there to make 182. Abhishek Sharma then helped India raced to 68 at the end of the powerplay, despite losing three wickets. But, again, they never gave up. And with that tenacity, Ireland have carved out a famous, famous moment in their cricketing history. Ireland's new skipper, Lorcan Tucker, led from the front with a fifty that helped them recover. Some old hands in George Dockrell and Gareth Delany stepped up with the bat as well. And then it was all about the two debutants - Indian-born Jai Moondra and Matt Hollard - who kept pegging India back with regular wickets. For Shreyas Iyer, the return to T20I cricket, as captain no less, has now officially begun on a very difficult note. India's tour of UK, which includes one more T20I in Belfast, has started with defeat, and they know they need to come up with a strong response. But enough about that, today is about Tucker and his men, and a stirring performance.
Arshdeep Singh c TH Tector b Humphreys 2 (12m 4b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50
Prasidh Krishna the last batter for India
Harshit Rana c Calitz b Humphreys 8 (12m 9b 0x4 1x6) SR: 88.88
Humphreys will bowl out now
END OF OVER:18 | 9 Runs | IND: 147/8 (36 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.16, RRR: 18.00)
- Harshit Rana8 (8b)
- Arshdeep Singh2 (2b)
- Jai Moondra4-0-25-2
- Gareth Delany1-0-3-1
Moondra to bowl out
Sai Mehta: "England and India both lost their first T20Is after winning in 22 and 24, looking like India will repeat again in 26"
END OF OVER:17 | 3 Runs 1 Wkt | IND: 138/8 (45 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.11, RRR: 15.00)
- Arshdeep Singh1 (1b)
- Harshit Rana1 (3b)
- Gareth Delany1-0-3-1
- Jai Moondra3-0-16-2
Arshdeep comes to the crease
AR Patel c TH Tector b Delany 15 (25m 16b 1x4 0x6) SR: 93.75
New batter Harshit Rana on strike
Delany into the attack now
END OF OVER:16 | 6 Runs 1 Wkt | IND: 135/7 (48 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 8.43, RRR: 12.00)
- Axar Patel14 (14b)
- Jai Moondra3-0-16-2
- Matthew Humphreys3-0-37-1
S Dube c & b Moondra 25 (29m 14b 1x4 2x6) SR: 178.57
Can Moondra close this over out?
