India vs Ireland: The two-match T20I series was won by India at Malahide on Tuesday by a slim four-run margin, giving them a 2-0 lead.

Umran Malik’s defense of 17 runs in the last over prevented Ireland from achieving a historic victory despite their best efforts in the 226-run chase. The Irish team’s pursuit was set up by the 60 from captain Andrew Balbirnie and the 40 from Paul Stirling, before cameos from Harry Tector (39), George Dockrell (35*), and Mark Adair (23*) almost won the match.

Deepak Hooda’s brilliant 104 off 57 balls helped Hardik Pandya’s team record 225 for seven in the decider after they elected to bat first. With Ishan Kishan falling early for three in the third over, India got off to a sluggish start. Sanju Samson, who was inserted in the XI in place of Ruturaj Gaikwad, joined Hooda for the second wicket.

The two then put up a scorching collaboration of 176 runs off 85 balls, surpassing the 165-run stand between Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul from 2017 to become the greatest T20I partnership by an Indian combo.

Samson reached his first T20I half-century (77), while Hooda then slammed his first century in the format off 55 deliveries. After KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, and Rohit Sharma, he became the fourth Indian to accomplish the feat. When Dinesh Karthik, Axar Patel, and Harshal Patel decided to chase golden ducks, the Indian middle-order wasted away in the dying overs.

Brief scores: 225 for 7 in 20 overs (Deepak Hooda 104, Sanju Samson 77; Mark Adair 3/42, Josh Little 2/38, Craig Young 2/35); India.

Ireland: 221 for 5 in 20 overs (Paul Stirling 40, Andrew Balbirnie 60, Harry Tector 39; George Dockrell 34 not out; Ravi Bishnoi 1/41, Umran Malik 1/42).