India vs Ireland, 2nd T20I: Deepak Hooda’s maiden century helped India beat Ireland by 4 runs to win the series 2-0. Cricket News – Times of India

Malahide (Ireland): Deepak Hooda India scored their maiden century of a master-class after thrashing Ireland by four runs in the second T20I on Tuesday in an impressive performance in the two-match series.
Hooda scored 104 runs in 57 balls to become the fourth Indian to score a T20 International century, while Sanju Samson Contributing 77 runs in 42 balls, India posted a mammoth total of 225 for seven after batting.
as it happened , Achievement:
Ireland chased till the last over with the captain Andy Balbirnie (60 out of 37), Paul Stirling (40 out of 18), Harry Tector (39 of 28) and George Dockrell (34 not out off 16) shined brightly but he eventually fell short as India’s fast bowler Umran Malik Saved 17 runs in the last over.
Opting to bat, Hooda showed that he was on the big stage with his scintillating stroke play, both front and back.
While Hooda was elegant and comfortable on the frontfoot, he was equally good on the backfoot, sending the ball over midwicket for a few sixes.

(AFP photo)
Hooda decorated his innings with nine fours and six hits over the fence.
He got full support from Sanju Samson, who opened the batting in place of injured Ruturaj Gaikwad, played second fiddle, but took advantage of his opportunity with both hands.
Both Hooda and Samson playing strokes on the ground was a treat for the eyes.

Ireland got off to a fine start to their chase, with Sterling and Balbirnie putting on a 72-run partnership for the opening wicket off just 34 balls. Out of the world gone the sterling hammer and tongs.
Sterling challenged Bhuvneshwar Kumar, hitting the bowler for a six and three fours, taking 18 runs from the first over.
Sterling then clubbed skipper Hardik Pandya for a six. The opening pair continued their aggressive run and got Ireland’s 50 for no loss in just four overs.

Leg spinner Ravi Bishnoi clean bowled Sterling in the sixth over, breaking a dangerous 72-run opening stand.
In his next over, Bishnoi was stumped by Ishan Kishan to Balbirnie, but it was a big no ball.
Balbirnie took advantage of the opportunity and brought all the Indian bowlers to all parts of the field to keep Ireland on par with the asking rate.
He was particularly critical of young pacer Malik, sending the pacer’s short delivery over the fence as Ireland made their 100 in nine overs for the loss of two wickets.

Balbirnie made his sixth T20 International 50 off 34 balls and continued his attack for some time before being caught by Bishnoi off Harshal Patel.
but tector, docker and Mark Adair (23 not out off 12 balls) kept Ireland in the hunt till the last ball, requiring the hosts to hit a six to win the match and draw the series. However, Adair could only manage one run as Malik lived up to his captain’s call.
Earlier, India did not have a good start as they lost Ishan Kishan (3) early. The left-handed opener once again squandered an opportunity, getting Lorcan Tucker behind the stumps in the third over off Mark Adair.
Hooda and Samson shook hands and the two batted with ease while facing two difficult occasions, putting on a 176-run partnership from just 85 balls to lay the foundation for India’s mammoth score.
It was one-way traffic after Kishan was dismissed as Hooda and Samson played with the Irish bowlers and didn’t let them settle down.
Barring a difficult opportunity, which was dropped by Paul Stirling at extra-off in eight overs, Hooda played a fine knock.
Samson was also given life in the ninth over when leg-spinner Gareth Delany dropped a difficult catch-balled opportunity.
Samson also played some brilliant strokes during his half-century, especially on the back foot. However, Adair got him clean bowled in the 17th over.
Hooda scored his maiden T20I century in 55 balls and joined the elite club of only four Indian centuries in the format, alongside the likes of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Suresh Raina.
Once Hooda was dismissed for a team score of 212, Surya Kumar Yadav (15) and captain Hardik Pandya (13 not out) tried to accelerate the scoring but were unsuccessful as India posted just 14 runs in the last two overs. In addition to losing three wickets.