India beat Ireland by four runs in the second T20I at The Village, Malahide, Dublin to clinch the series 2-0. Opting to bat, India piled an enormous 225/7, but Ireland remained in the hunt almost throughout the chase to finish on 221/5. They needed six off the last ball, bowled by Umran Malik, but Mark Adair could only smash it to deep extra cover and pick up a single.
The Ireland chase was set up by Paul Stirling (40 in 18 balls) and Andy Balbirnie (60 in 37), who added 72 in 34 balls. Ireland were then reduced to 142/4, and needed 84 in 38 balls. But Harry Tector (39 in 28) launched an onslaught before George Dockrell (34* in 16) and Adair (23* in 12) took the match to the deep. Of the four Indian bowlers who bowled more than two overs, everyone conceded 41 or more.
Earlier, Adair (3-42) got Ishan Kishan with his seventh ball before Sanju Samson (77 in 42 balls) and Deepak Hooda (104 in 57) added 176 in 85 balls, thereby setting a new world record stand for the second wicket. India lost wickets after that, with Dinesh Karthik, Axar Patel, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar all perishing off the first ball they faced.
Hooda was named Player of the Match as well as Player of the Series.
Brief scores
India 225/7 in 20 overs (Deepak Hooda 104; Mark Adair 3-42) beat Ireland 221/5 in 20 overs (Andy Balbirnie 60; Ravi Bishnoi 1-41) by 4 runs. Player of the Match: Deepak Hooda.
India won the series 2-0. Player of the Series: Deepak Hooda.