CricketEurope reports:

Peter Chase took four wickets on his way to his best T20 international figures but it was in a losing cause as Ireland went down to a powerful Indian line-up by 76 runs. Malahide speedster Chase delighted his home support as he followed up the wicket of Suresh Raina by claiming three wickets in four balls in a dramatic final over.

Chase dismissed the powerful triumvirate of MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli – the latter for a second ball duck to finish with 4 for 35. Certainly one to tell the grand-chlldren in future years.

Unfortunately for Chase and Ireland, India’s opening pair of Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan had shared an opening stand of 160 in 16 overs to lay the platform for a final total of 208 for 5. Sharma top scored with 97 from 61 balls (8 fours, 5 sixes) while Dhawan also cleared the ropes five times in his 74 from just 45 balls.

The stand was ended by a Stuart Thompson catch off Kevin O’Brien – one of three for the Eglinton man which atoned for two earlier drops. The Irish chase suffered a blow with the early loss of Paul Stirling, but James Shannon – preferred along with Andy Balbirnie to former skipper William Porterfield – showed his quality to keep Irish hopes alive approaching the half-way mark.

The Instonians man struck 5 fours and 4 sixes on his way to a maiden T20I half century, eventually being dismissed for 60 from just 35 balls. Alas the rest of the batting failed to fire, as the Indian spinners weaved their magic in the middle overs.

Kuldeep Yadav (4-21) and Yuzvendra Chahal (3-38) extracted plenty of turn from the track as the Irish stuttered to 132 for 9. Jasprit Bumrah (2-19) was the other successful member of the impressive visitors bowling unit.

CricketEurope