India won the toss and opted to bat first, and that decision by MS Dhoni was fully vindicated by a impressive opening burst from Zaheer Khan, who removed Jeremy Bray (0), William Porterfield (5), and Andre Botha (8) in quick succession. Bray lost his middle stump, while Porterfield and Botha both edged the left armer to the safe hands of Yusuf Pathan at slip. That left Ireland at 17-3, and their hopes of posting a challenging total were effectively ended when the big hitting Kevin O’Brien dragged the first delivery from Pragyan Ojha onto his stumps, departing for just 2, and Ireland were in the mire at 28 for 4.

Gary Wilson made 19 before being completely foxed by Harbajan Singh’s doosra. John Mooney (19) played two impressive reverse sweeps, but it was that shot which proved his ultimate downfall, when he picked out Yuvraj Singh off Ojha. The next ball saw Regan West make the most basic of errors, not grounding his bat when coming back for a second run, the fielder, Suresh Raina at deep mid on hitting the stumps direct. That made the score 73 for 7 with just 3 overs left, and it looked as if Ireland would struggle to reach the hundred mark.

To their credit, they staged a late rally, sparked off by Andrew White hooking the only six of the Irish innings. They added 39 from those last three overs, with White top scoring with 29, before edging Khan to Dhoni, to give him an analysis of 4-19, which was enough to give him the Man of the Match award. Alex Cusack (12*) and Kyle McCallan (9*) added 20 form the last 10 balls, and the Irish final total of 112-8 was respectable, if not exactly challenging.

Indian openers Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma played with great assurance, and it looked as if they would take India to a ten wicket win as they put on 77 in 10.5 overs. However the introduction of spin in the form of Regan West gave the Irish the breakthrough, as Gambhir cut straight to Rankin at point. He had made 37 from 31 balls, striking 3 fours and a six. That brought the Indian captain MS Dhoni to the crease, and he was troubled by a few real lifting deliveries from Boyd Rankin early on, who impressed up until his final delivery, which Rohit Sharma deposited out of the ground.

The ever reliable Kyle McCallan bowled well, and it was he who picked up the wicket of Dhoni, brilliantly caught by Jeremy Bray at deep square leg, who clung on diving forward after misjudging the flight of the ball. Sharma brought up his fifty with a lofted drive over cover, reaching the milestone from 44 balls, which included 4 fours and a six. The next ball was pushed for a single and the victory achieved with ease. A respectable performance by Ireland who now are back in action tomorrow (Thursday) against a New Zealand side which has injury concerns of it’s own. Jessie Ryder definitely misses out, while there are concerns over Daniel Vettori, James Franklin and the big hitting Ross Taylor. That game at Trent Bridge gets under way at 1:30pm, while they will play Sri Lanka at Lord’s on Sunday, and then Pakistan at The Oval on Monday.

Ian Callenbder reports

The result may have been inevitable but there was no disgrace in the Ireland performance. The world champions, in pursuit of a modest victory target of 113, won by eight wickets but William Porterfield’s confident side kept them out in the field for 15 and a half overs. The game was reduced to 18 overs by rain which delayed the start for 50 minutes but the forecast heavy downpour for the Nottingham area never arrived and the Ireland players were able to test themselves against a full strength India side. They emerged with their heads held high.

They could have made it tougher if the top order had not been blown away by Zaheer Khan, who proved his fitness with four wickets for 19 in three overs but from the perils of 28 for four and 73 for seven, Ireland hit 39 off the last three overs to maintain their record of having reached 100 in every Twenty20 international.

The end of innings hero was Andrew White who was only playing because Trent Johnston was rested ahead of the first of the Super Eight games against New Zealand, back at Trent Bridge on Thursday at 1.30pm. The Instonians all rounder top scored with 29 off 25 balls including the only six of the innings. Indeed, the boundary count doubled in those last three overs, only five coming off the first 15 overs and India, using all their heavy artillery, both pace and spin, proved too hot for the Irish to handle.

Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni used six bowlers in the first eight overs and the variety did for the top five batsmen, all going inside 9.4 overs with just 48 on the board. Zaheer took the first three in the space of seven balls in his first two overs. First, Jeremy Bray (0) was beaten all ends up by a fast in swinger, then the captain was caught at slip for five and, although Andre Botha survived the hat-trick and then hit eight off three successive balls, he failed to survive the over, giving another catch to Yusuf Pathan at slip.

Botha was the other change from the team that beat Bangladesh to ensure their qualification for the Super Eights, coming in for Niall O’Brien who is still troubled by the ankle injury sustained in Monday’s match.

When Kevin O’Brien (2) tried to hit his first ball from slow left armer Pragjan Oyha out of the ground, but missed, it was backs against the wall for Ireland but Gary Wilson was much more positive than on Monday and to good effect. He hit 19 from 21 balls but was bamboozled by Harbhajan Singh’s doosra and lost his off stump. John Mooney (19) and White led the recovery and the latter, with Alex Cusack (12 not out) who hit a couple of late boundaries, took 15 off the last over.

A run rate of barely six an over was never going to be a challenge for India but any hopes of rushing to the winning post or doing it in style were restricted by a gutsy fielding performance and determined bowling attack.

Regan West made up for his ridiculous run-out - he failed to ground his bat coming back for a second - with another good spell and he broke the first wicket stand but not before 77 had been scored. Kyle McCallan then claimed the scalp of Dhoni, well caught by Jeremy Bray but Yuvraj could only manage three singles as Rohit Sharma finished the match, the ball after bringing up his 50.

Cricket Ireland & Ian Callender