1st T20I: Hooda helps India hammer Ireland by 7-wickets in rain-shortened match

TIL Desk Sports/ Opening the innings, Deepak Hooda struck an unbeaten 47 to help India hammer 111 runs in 9.2 overs and romp to a seven wickets win against Ireland in the rain-truncated first T20 International match here. Hardik Pandya had won the toss in Malahide on Sunday but persistent rain delayed the start of play and the game was reduced to 12-overs-per-side when the umpires finally found the conditions fit for play.

India came up with a clinical bowling display to restrict hosts Ireland to 108/4 in 12 overs after inviting them to bat first. Hooda, usually a middle-order batter in IPL, struck a 29-ball 47, hitting six boundaries and two sixes, while fellow-opener Ishan Kishan (26) and skipper Pandya (24) made vital contributions as India reached 111/3 in 9.2 overs, winning the match with 16 deliveries to spare.

The visitors had handed young tearaway Umran Malik his debut but things did not start well as he gave away 14 runs in the only over he bowled. But the rest of the bowlers did well, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/16) and Yuzvendra Chahal (1/11) comfortably the pick of the bowlers with their three overs apiece.”