Rain condemns Ireland to narrow defeat against India in Malahide

Ireland were left cursing the weather following a two-run Duckworth-Lewis-Stern defeat to India in their T20 series opener in Malahide.

Chasing 140, the visitors raced to 45 without loss after six overs and not even Craig Young taking two wickets in two balls could deny them a slender victory once a prolonged rain shower ended any hope of further play.

Returning to the international stage after back surgery and captaining the tourists for three matches in the absence of Rohit Sharma, Bumrah dismissed Andy Balbirnie and Lorcan Tucker in the opening over.

Balbirnie got a sliver of an inside edge into his stumps while Tucker's attempted ramp merely ballooned to wicketkeeper Sanju Samson before Ireland stumbled to 59 for six after losing the toss.

Jasprit Bumrah marked his first international appearance in 11 months with a couple of wickets and Prasidh Krishna and Ravi Bishnoi also took a couple of dismissals apiece for a mainly second-string India, although they were blunted by Barry McCarthy’s belligerent 51 not out from just 33 balls.

Batting at number eight, McCarthy flayed four fours and as many sixes, two off the last two legal deliveries of the innings from Arshdeep Singh, who conceded 22 runs in his last over.

McCarthy’s belligerence helped Ireland to 139 for seven but Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad showed intent against Ireland’s quicks. Jaiswal ended the powerplay with a huge pull off Josh Little for six.

That would prove crucial after Young brought false strokes out of Jaiswal for 24 and Tilak Varma in successive deliveries which seemed to bring Ireland back into the contest.

However, the heavens opened two balls later with India’s 47 for two, with Gaikwad unbeaten on 16, just ahead of par on Duckworth-Lewis-Stern