📅 June 28, 2026 | By Pulse India News Desk
Ireland vs India 2nd T20I Review: Ireland Seal Historic 2-0 Sweep With Thrilling 1-Run Win
Jai Moondra and Matthew Hollard starred with three wickets each as Ireland stunned India again in Belfast.
| Match | Ireland vs India, 2nd T20I |
| Series | India Tour of Ireland 2026 |
| Venue | Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast |
| Date | Sunday, June 28, 2026 |
| Result | Ireland won by 1 run |
| Ireland Score | 154/8 in 20 overs |
| India Score | 153/9 in 20 overs |
| Series Result | Ireland won the series 2-0 |
Ireland Complete Historic 2-0 Sweep Over India
Ireland wrote one of the greatest chapters in their cricket history by beating India by one run in the second T20I in Belfast, sealing a sensational 2-0 series sweep over the reigning world champions.
After posting 154/8, Ireland defended the total in dramatic fashion as Jai Moondra and Matthew Hollard picked up three wickets each. India needed 21 from the final over and nearly pulled off a miracle, but Prince Yadav’s last-ball six was not enough as Ireland held their nerve.
- Ireland defeated India by one run in a thrilling second T20I.
- Ireland sealed a historic 2-0 series sweep over India.
- Harry Tector scored a fighting 53 off 47 balls.
- Benjamin Calitz gave Ireland momentum with 37 off 23 balls.
- Prince Yadav impressed on debut for India with 3/22.
- Jai Moondra and Matthew Hollard took three wickets each for Ireland.
- Tilak Varma’s 55 kept India alive, but the chase fell short by one run.
- India’s unbeaten run of 16 T20I series/tournaments came to an end.
Ireland 154/8: Tector And Calitz Rescue Hosts After Early Pressure
Ireland began brightly as Ross Adair attacked Arshdeep Singh early, smashing two sixes in a quick 16 off seven balls. However, India fought back through early wickets as Tim Tector and Adair fell inside the first three overs.
Harry Tector then anchored the innings with a composed half-century. At one stage, Ireland were struggling at 58/3 after ten overs, but Benjamin Calitz changed the tempo with a powerful 37 off 23 balls. His partnership with Tector gave Ireland the base they needed to reach a competitive total.
📊 Ireland Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Tector | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 83.33 |
| Ross Adair | 16 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 228.57 |
| Harry Tector | 53 | 47 | 5 | 1 | 112.77 |
| Lorcan Tucker | 15 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 83.33 |
| Benjamin Calitz | 37 | 23 | 3 | 2 | 160.87 |
| George Dockrell | 19 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 135.71 |
| Extras | 6 | ||||
| Total | 154/8 in 20 overs | ||||
🎯 India Bowling: Prince Yadav Shines On Debut
India found a major positive in debutant Prince Yadav, who delivered a superb final over and finished with 3/22. His variations, yorkers and composure under pressure stood out in his first T20I appearance.
Shivam Dube also made an impact with the ball, dismissing Calitz and Gareth Delany off consecutive deliveries. Arshdeep Singh picked up two wickets, but Ireland’s middle-order recovery ensured India still had a tricky chase.
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arshdeep Singh | 4 | 35 | 2 | 8.80 |
| Harshit Rana | 3 | 17 | 1 | 5.70 |
| Prince Yadav | 4 | 22 | 3 | 5.50 |
| Shivam Dube | 3 | 25 | 2 | 8.30 |
| Suryansh Shedge | 2 | 25 | 0 | 12.50 |
| Axar Patel | 4 | 28 | 0 | 7.00 |
India Chase: Moondra’s New-Ball Burst Stuns India
India’s chase began in nightmare fashion. Jai Moondra removed Sanju Samson with his first delivery and then struck again in the same over to dismiss Abhishek Sharma for a golden duck, thanks to a brilliant catch from Matthew Hollard.
Moondra then bowled India captain Shreyas Iyer, leaving India under heavy pressure. A run-out mix-up involving Ishan Kishan made matters worse, reducing India to 35/4 inside five overs.
Tilak Varma Fights, But Ireland Hold Their Nerve
Tilak Varma kept India alive with a fighting 55 off 46 balls. He rebuilt the innings with Axar Patel before adding crucial runs with Shivam Dube. However, Ireland’s bowlers kept the boundary count low and pushed the asking rate higher.
When Tilak fell shortly after reaching his fifty, Ireland looked in control. Harshit Rana then brought India back into the game with a stunning late cameo of 21 off 10 balls, but the final-over equation proved just too steep.
📊 India Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanju Samson | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Abhishek Sharma | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Ishan Kishan | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 109.09 |
| Shreyas Iyer | 10 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 142.86 |
| Tilak Varma | 55 | 46 | 3 | 1 | 119.57 |
| Axar Patel | 14 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 77.78 |
| Shivam Dube | 20 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 125.00 |
| Harshit Rana | 21 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 210.00 |
| Prince Yadav | 6* | 1 | 0 | 1 | 600.00 |
| Extras | 10 | ||||
| Total | 153/9 in 20 overs | ||||
☘️ Ireland Bowling: Moondra And Hollard Become Heroes
Jai Moondra’s new-ball spell ripped through India’s top order and set the tone for Ireland’s famous defence. Matthew Hollard then took over in the middle and death overs, dismissing Tilak Varma, Axar Patel and Suryansh Shedge.
Matthew Humphreys also played a key role with a tight spell, including a two-run 16th over that shifted the pressure firmly onto India.
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jai Moondra | 4 | 32 | 3 | 8.00 |
| Matthew Humphreys | 4 | 28 | 1 | 7.00 |
| Matthew Hollard | 4 | 26 | 3 | 6.50 |
| Liam McCarthy | 4 | 22 | 0 | 5.50 |
| Harry Tector | 4 | 40 | 1 | 10.00 |
🔎 Match Turning Points
1. Jai Moondra’s first over: Removing Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma immediately gave Ireland belief and put India under huge pressure.
2. Ishan Kishan run-out: India were already wobbling, and the miscommunication with Tilak Varma made the chase much harder.
3. Calitz-Tector stand: Ireland’s 65-run partnership gave their bowlers something to defend.
4. Humphreys’ two-run 16th over: That over pushed India’s required rate up and forced risky shots.
5. Rana’s wicket at 19.5: Harshit Rana had almost pulled off the chase, but his dismissal sealed India’s fate.
⭐ Top Performers
⭐ Jai Moondra: 3/32, including the wickets of Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Shreyas Iyer.
⭐ Matthew Hollard: 3/26 and a stunning catch to dismiss Abhishek Sharma.
⭐ Harry Tector: Anchored Ireland’s innings with 53 off 47 balls.
⭐ Benjamin Calitz: Scored a momentum-changing 37 off 23 balls.
⭐ Tilak Varma: India’s best batter with a fighting 55 off 46 balls.
⭐ Prince Yadav: Impressive debut performance with 3/22 and a last-ball six.
📉 What Went Wrong For India?
Top-order collapse: India lost Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan inside the first five overs.
Slow middle overs: The Axar-Tilak partnership rebuilt the innings but struggled to find boundaries, increasing the pressure at the death.
Late-order pressure: Harshit Rana gave India hope, but the target became too difficult after India left 21 runs for the final over.
Series streak ends: The defeat ended India’s unbeaten run of 16 T20I series or tournaments, with their previous series loss coming against West Indies in 2023.
🏆 Final Series Result
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| 1st T20I | Ireland beat India to record their first-ever international win over India |
| 2nd T20I | Ireland beat India by 1 run |
| Series | Ireland won 2-0 |
Ireland’s 1-run win over India will be remembered as one of the greatest results in their cricket history. Harry Tector and Benjamin Calitz built the platform, while Jai Moondra and Matthew Hollard delivered with the ball under immense pressure.
India fought through Tilak Varma and Harshit Rana, but the early collapse proved too costly. Ireland’s belief, discipline and courage at the death delivered a famous 2-0 series sweep in Belfast.
Player of the Match: Jai Moondra ⭐
Best Batter: Harry Tector – 53 off 47
Best Indian Performer: Tilak Varma – 55 off 46
Series Result: Ireland won 2-0
Pulse India News Rating: 9/10
Ireland vs IndiaIndia vs IrelandIndia Tour of Ireland 20262nd T20IIreland CricketIndia CricketJai MoondraMatthew HollardHarry TectorTilak VarmaPrince YadavCricket News
