NEWS
Follow UsIreland looked down and out when they were reduced to 59 for 6 in the 11th over when Barry McCarthy walked in at No. 8. He shared a 57-run stand with Curtis Campher (39) and then finished the innings off in a flurry, bringing up his maiden T20 International (T20I) fifty off just 33 deliveries, to propel his side to a decent total of 139.
Ireland, however, ended up losing the game by just two runs on DLS after rain played spoilsport, despite fast bowler Craig Young removing Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tilak Varma off consecutive deliveries in the seventh over. Despite the loss, McCarthy commended the way Ireland fought back against a quality side like India.
“I knew I had more responsibility coming in 11 overs into the game,” McCarthy said in the post-match press conference.
“There was an opportunity to get a score, and I played positively, and we got up to a decent total, but Curtis’ innings was also a standout. You have to take the aggressive option against these teams, and while it didn’t come off today upfront, we will continue to play the aggressive brand of cricket.
“One or two deliveries didn’t go our way today, but we believe we can put on a huge score against these guys and have a competitive game of cricket.
“To get ourselves so close to a win after our position 10 overs in is a credit to our spirit, we fought the whole way to the end and another wicket in those last two balls, and it would have been a huge day in Irish cricket.”
Ireland will have a chance to level the series when they take on India in the second T20I at Malahide on Sunday (August 20).
