Ireland vs India, 1st T20I Match Summary

That's a wrap - The celebrations are sure to continue long into the night for Ireland after a famous victory, but there is little time to rest on their laurels as they look to script even more history. With this being a two-match series, India can no longer win it and will now be hoping to level matters in the next game. The second and final T20I will be played on Sunday, June 28, here in Belfast, with the first ball scheduled for 12.30 pm GMT (6 pm IST). As always, you can join us a little earlier for all the build-up. Until then, take care and goodbye.

The captain of Ireland - Lorcan Tucker describes the victory as a special one, praising his teammates for sticking together throughout the game and earning the result. He also says things have started nicely for him as skipper. Reflecting on the game, he credits India for bowling the right lengths and making shot-making difficult. He explains that the plan was to stay in the contest, build partnerships and cash in when the opportunities arrived later in the innings. He calls it an outstanding performance against the world champions at home and says it reflects all the hard work put in behind the scenes by Cricket Ireland and the support the team receives. Speaking about the two debutants, he says the team learnt from the way India bowled in the first innings. He praises the newcomers for showcasing their skills, working hard and executing the plans perfectly. Looking ahead to the next game, he says a series win over India at home would be incredibly special. He adds that the squad is excited for the challenge, with the team's energy and the crowd's support playing a huge role in the victory.

The skipper of India - Shreyas Iyer says the bowlers were outstanding at the start, bowling with real venom and asking plenty of questions of the Irish batters. He feels that chasing 140 would have been an ideal scenario, considering the kind of start they had with the ball. Mentions that the team will have to put this defeat behind them and come out all guns blazing in the next game. Despite the defeat, he says it was a valuable experience, helping the team get a fair idea of the conditions and the wicket. Iyer also praises Harshit Rana for an impressive return from injury and says Shivam Dube once again delivered with the ball in crucial phases.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Matt Hollard takes home the award for his special effort with the ball on debut (3/28 in 4 overs). Hollard says that in all honesty, he never expected his debut to go like this. Adds that he knew he had it in him, but it is kind of a dream come true for him playing his first game against India. After his very first ball, he reveals that he immediately turned to Harry and said, 'The first one's done.' He admits his heart stopped for a moment when the ball went into the air, making the wicket even more special. Hollard shares he had been eager to visit Ireland since 2019, but Covid and a series of setbacks delayed the opportunity. His brother made the trip first and encouraged him to come, while he also praised Cricket Ireland for the way they have looked after him. Addressing his club teammates, he thanks them for welcoming him despite not knowing who he was or where he had come from. He says they accepted him as one of their own and expresses his gratitude for their unwavering support throughout his journey. Speaking about his family, he says he has not seen them for a while, making their presence at the ground even more meaningful. Watching them see him receive his cap and cheer him on, he says, is an unbelievable feeling.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

Tucker and Delany rebuild - After being asked to bat first, Ireland went too hard too early and lost three wickets in the Powerplay. Lorcan Tucker and Gareth Delany then came together to steady the ship and spark a recovery. The momentum shifted with 46 runs coming in two overs, and although Ireland could not finish as strongly as they would have liked, those two overs proved to be the difference. India also paid the price for dropping Gareth Delany on 8, as he went on to play a key role in the recovery.

A famous Irish defence - India came out swinging through Abhishek Sharma and, although they raced to 68 runs in the Powerplay, they also lost three wickets along the way. After finding the boundaries regularly early on, Abhishek spent long periods at the non-striker's end, which perhaps disrupted his rhythm, and he fell soon after bringing up his fifty. From there, Ireland tightened the screws as India failed to stitch together any meaningful partnerships. Axar Patel and Shivam Dube did threaten to pull off the chase with a useful stand, but the hosts nipped that threat in the bud and went on to complete a famous victory.

History created in Belfast - A red-letter day in Irish cricket, or should we say, a green-letter day. Ireland have beaten India in international cricket for the first time, having lost all 11 of their previous meetings across ODIs and T20Is. Despite being hit by injuries and missing several of their regulars, the hosts have scripted history with a memorable victory. The T20 champions have been taken down, and it is an inauspicious start to the Shreyas Iyer era.

OUT! TAKEN! History has been created in Belfast as Ireland beat India for the very first time in international cricket. IRELAND WIN BY 34 RUNS. Matthew Humphreys tosses it up, full and on middle, Arshdeep Singh looks to slog it again but mistimes it high in the air towards long on. Tim Tector runs forward, keeps his eyes on the ball and takes a fantastic catch, tumbling to his right. All the Irish players run to Tector, and the celebrations begin on the pitch and in the stands as well, with the fans witnessing this special moment.

Quicker one, shortish and just outside off, Arshdeep Singh swings blindly and misses.

Flatter, short again, around off, Prasidh Krishna punches it to sweeper cover for a run.

Short and outside off, Prasidh Krishna cuts it straight to point.

Prasidh Krishna is the last man in.

OUT! CAUGHT! Matthew Humphreys gets his second, and Harry Tector will be a relieved man. Tossed up, on a good length and on middle, Harshit Rana looks to slog it across the line and swings hard but gets it from the toe-end of the bat. It goes high in the air towards deep mid-wicket, where Ben Calitz moves to his left and takes an excellent reverse cup catch under pressure. Ireland can see the finish line now.

How big a moment will that prove to be? Matthew Humphreys returns for his final over with India needing 36 runs off the last 12 balls.

DROPPED! Harshit Rana survives! This is dug into the surface, around off. Rana clears his front leg to swat down the ground but gets a top edge. It goes in the air straight towards long on, where Harry Tector settles under it but spills it. Single taken by Rana and he will keep the strike.

WIDE! A bouncer, on leg and way too high, Harshit Rana ducks under it. Wided.

And again! Jai Moondra keeps the length short, pushes the line wide outside off, gets good bounce again. Harshit Rana throws his bat at it but loses his shape and misses again. He has a polite enquiry for a wide but gets nothing.

Good comeback! Hard-length delivery, just on off, pace on. Harshit Rana backs away to cut but misses.

A slight hold-up as the ball is being retrieved.

SIX! Harshit Rana will not go down without a fight here! Jai Moondra bangs this into the deck, on off, takes pace off. Rana picks up early, waits for it and whacks it over the wide long on fence for a biggie. 38 needed in 15 now.

Short of a length and around off, angling away, Harshit Rana slashes hard at it but fails to connect.

Back of a length, just outside off, Arshdeep Singh punches it straight to extra cover, where the fielder makes a half-stop. A single taken.

Jai Moondra to bowl out now.

Quicker, full and on off, Arshdeep Singh drills it to long off for one. 45 needed in 18 balls now.

Arshdeep Singh is in at number 10.

OUT! CAUGHT! Is that the final nail in the coffin? Ireland will want to believe so. Gareth Delany dishes out a googly, full and outside off. Axar Patel clears his front leg to launch it down the ground, but does not get fully underneath it and hits it against the turn. It flies flat towards long on, where Tim Tector gets low on his knees and takes a good catch. Ireland are two wickets away from the win now.

Darts in a yorker, outside off, Harshit Rana squeezes it out to point for a run.

Two dots and pressure builds even more! Looped up, full and on middle, Harshit Rana jams it out to extra cover again.

Flighted, full and on off, Harshit Rana drives it straight to extra cover.