Ireland have beaten India for the first time in any format after Lorcan Tucker’s captain’s innings drove a 34-run T20I win in Belfast.
The hosts were put into bat in Friday’s series opener and recovered from 30/3 to post 182/9, with Tucker’s half-century and Gareth Delany’s 49 from 32 balls turning a fragile start into a defendable total. India were then bowled out for 148 in 18.5 overs.
Tucker Gives Ireland Their Breakthrough
The result carries obvious historical weight. The ICC confirmed it was Ireland’s first victory over India across all formats, and it came against the reigning T20 world champions.
India had early control through Harshit Rana, who removed both Ireland openers and finished with 3/24. But Tucker and Delany dragged the innings into shape before Ireland’s late acceleration produced 46 runs across two decisive overs.
India Chase Falls Apart
Abhishek Sharma kept India briefly alive with 49 from 20 balls, but the chase never settled once wickets began to fall around him.
Left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys and Matt Hollard both claimed three-wicket hauls, while debutant Jai Moondra returned 2/25 from four overs on a night that sharply altered the tone of India’s short tour.
The second and final T20I will be played on Sunday, with Shreyas Iyer’s side now under immediate pressure to avoid a series defeat.
