IRE VS IND T20I

Two down, one more to go. India have an unassailable 2-0 lead in this three-match T20I series against Ireland and will now have their eyes on a whitewash. The hosts will be hoping to put on a more complete display as there have been signs that they can indeed notch up a win against the cricketing giants. The 3rd and final T20I of this series will be played on Wednesday, 23 August and will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). Our build-up, however, will begin a lot sooner, so, do join us then. Take care and goodbye!

India's skipper Jasprit Bumrah says that he is feeling good. Adds that the wicket was on the drier side and hence, they wanted to bat first. Mentions that they were constantly assessing the surface. Shares that it is very pleasing to play with this group and it is tough to pick the playing XI. Reckons that is a great headache to have and everyone is confident and eager to perform. Feels that everyone has to work their way up and have to keep the baggage of expectations aside. Adds that you are not doing justice to your game if you are playing with expectations.

Paul Stirling, the captain of Ireland says that he felt they had chances in the game but were unable to take it and there were a lot of positives for them. Adds that they let it slip with the ball in the last couple of overs and the Indian batters did bat really well. Mentions that they have a few obvious areas to work on and would look to end the series with a win.

Rinku Singh is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his crucial knock of 38 runs off 21 balls in just his 2nd T20I game. He says that he was very confident and eager to bat. Mentions that he was trying to use his Indian T20 League experience and looked to remain calm. Shares that he has done a lot of hard work and is now reaping the rewards. Ends by saying that he couldn't be happier to get the award in the first game he batted.

The Presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the game, Paul Stirling won the toss and opted to bowl first under a fairly sunny Malahide sky. The frontline pacers couldn't do much for Ireland and Joshua Little in particular was off his game. India started off quickly before losing a couple of wickets in succession but then came a big stand between Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson worth 71 runs with the former notching up a half-century as well. The innings did slow down a bit as Barry McCarthy and Benjamin White got both the set batters out. Rinku Singh on his first-ever outing with the bat on the big stage put on a show alongside Shivam Dube and the pair of them smoked the ball to all parts of the ground to take India over the 180-run mark. Coming to the chase, Ireland were always one big stand away from really challenging the Indian total but unfortunately for the home side, that partnership never came.

Ireland were once again let down by their batting performance in the Powerplay. Skipper Paul Stirling and Lorcan Tucker both fell early without even getting off the mark and Harry Tector couldn't do much either. Former skipper Andy Balbirnie however played a gem of an inning and had a bit of support from the likes of Curtis Campher and George Dockrell. Balbirnie fell on a valiant 72 and they lost a few quick wickets which made it improbable for the lower order to take them over the line. There were a few lusty blows from Mark Adair but the hosts were well beaten in the end.

There it is, a young Indian side has rounded off a solid display and have clinched the three-match T20I series 2-0 with a game to spare. India had the runs on the board and were able to pick up wickets at crucial times which helped them stay in front and get the job done pretty easily in the end. Prasidh Krishna was on fire in the early overs and picked up a couple of wickets and then Ravi Bishnoi picked up one more in the final over of the Powerplay. This put India in command but there was a bit of a fightback from the opposition. The likes of Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah were able to come on in the latter stages and pick up wickets in heaps with the skipper even bowling a wicket-maiden final over.

Four Byes! Exceptional stuff by Jasprit Bumrah, he finishes the game with a wicket-maiden! Bowls the off-cutter this time, fuller in length, outside off, Joshua Little heaves across the line but connects with thin air. Sanju Samson behind the wicket misses as well and the ball trickles to the fence. India win by 33 runs and seal the series!

On a yorker length, on middle, Joshua Little jams it out back to the bowler.

Joshua Little is in next.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Jasprit Bumrah is producing a death overs masterclass here! Bowls this slightly on a good length, on middle and leg, Mark Adair swipes across the line again but makes contact this time. The connection is nowhere close to perfection and he ends up spooning the simplest of catches to Tilak Varma at deep mid-wicket.

An off-cutter this time, on a good length, on middle and leg, Mark Adair swings across the line but misses.

Continues to go for the yorkers but this one is on the fuller side, Mark Adair powers it back past the bowler. Arshdeep Singh at long off does well to keep the ball in play and denies a boundary.

Angles in yet another yorker, on middle, Mark Adair fails to get underneath and digs it down to long on for a run.

Keeps it full and outside off, Craig Young slices it to deep point. They do not take a single and it will be Mark Adair on strike at the start of the next over.

Fullish delivery, on middle and leg, Mark Adair clears his front leg and swats it to deep mid-wicket for a single.