DUBLIN: Pace sensation Jasprit Bumrah ticked all the boxes on his much-anticipated return to lead India to a two-run win over Ireland by DLS Method in a rain-interrupted first T20I of the three-match series here on Friday.

Leading the side on his return after an 11-month injury layoff, Bumrah claimed 2-24 with nine dot balls and formed a formidable pair with T20I debutant Prasidh Krishna (2-32) to restrict Ireland to 139-7 after opting to bowl.

Things looked bleak for the hosts after they were down 59 for 6 in the 11th over but their No 8 Barry McCarthy produced an amazing recovery, blazing his way to a 33-ball 51 not out.

He stitched a seventh wicket 57-run partnership with Curtis Campher (39) as Ireland reeled off 54 runs in the last five overs, losing just one wicket.

McCarthy was the stand out batter for the hosts as he reached his maiden half-century with a last-ball six off Arshdeep Singh who leaked 22 runs in the last over with McCarthy going hammers and tongs with two sixes and a four.

Chasing the tricky target under overcast conditions, India were off to a fluent start with Yashasvi Jaiswal (24) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (19 not out) putting together 46 runs in 6.2 overs.

But Craig Young pro­­­duced a double blow, taking the left-handed duo of Jaiswal and Tilak Varma who was out for a golden duck.

India vice-captain Gaikwad, however, showed maturity and watched through the tricky phased, well aware that they were ahead of the DLS par score.

There was no stopping rain as umpires decided to call off the game with India taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

The victory also saw India return to winning ways after they went down 2-3 in the T20I series in the West Indies.

The second T20I is scheduled for Sunday.

SCOREBOARD

IRELAND:

A. Balbirnie b Bumrah4

P. Stirling b Bishnoi11

L. Tucker c Samson b Bumrah0

H. Tector c Varma b Krishna9

C. Campher b Singh39

G. Dockrell c Gaikwad b Krishna1

M. Adair lbw Bishnoi16

B. McCarthy not out51

C. Young not out1

EXTRAS (NB-1, W-6)7

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 20 overs)139

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-4 (Balbirnie), 2-4 (Tucker), 3-27 (Tector), 4-27 (Stirling), 5-31 (Dockrell), 6-59 (Adair), 7-116 (Campher)

DID NOT BAT: B. White, J. Little

BOWLING: Bumrah 4-0-24-2 (1w), A. Singh 4-0-35-1 (3w, 1nb), Krishna 4-0-32-2 (1w), Bishnoi 4-0-23-2 (1w), Dube 1-0-6-0, Sundar 3-0-19-0

INDIA:

Y. Jaiswal c Stirling b Young24

R. Gaikwad not out19

T. Varma c Tucker b Young0

S. Samson not out1

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-2)3

TOTAL (for two wkts, 6.5 overs)47

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-46 (Jaiswal), 2-46 (Varma)

DID NOT BAT: R. Singh, S. Dube, W. Sundar, P. Krishna, A. Singh,

J. Bumrah, R. Bishnoi

BOWLING: Adair 1-0-10-0, Little 3-0-20-0 (1w), McCarthy 2-0-14-0 (1w), Young 0.5-0-2-2.

RESULT: India won by two runs (DLS Method).

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2023