Ireland slump to defeat against India in T20 Cricket World Cup opener

Ireland slumped to a comprehensive eight-wicket defeat against India in their ICC T20 World Cup opener in New York on Wednesday, June 5.

Coming into the match as rank outsiders, Ireland lost the toss and were sent to bat first on a difficult pitch against a fearsome Indian attack at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on Long Island. 

The Irish batters struggled on a surface favoring bowlers, losing openers Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbirnie within the first three overs. 

Lorcan Tucker was then bowled out by Hardik Pandya before Harry Tector fell to a cheap dismissal. 

Ireland eventually scrambled to 96 all out with 24 balls remaining, with Gareth Delaney top-scoring for the Irish with a resolute 26 runs off 14 balls. Delaney was run out at the end of the 16th over to bring an end to the Irish innings. 

Ireland simply could not live with the India attack, with Hardik Pandya taking three wickets for 27 runs and Jasprit Bumrah collecting two wickets for the loss of just six runs. 

Requiring just 97 runs to win, India wrapped up victory with 46 balls to spare despite losing Virat Kohli to a cheap early wicket. 

Captain Rohit Sharma registered an impressive half-century during the India chase, surpassing 4,000 runs in T20 internationals and 1,000 runs in World Cup matches in the process. 

Sharma retired hurt on 52 runs after picking up an apparent shoulder injury before Rishabh Pant added 36 runs to see India over the line with more than seven overs to spare. 

Pant hit the winning runs with an audacious six, to the delight of the majority-Indian crowd. 

Ireland will attempt to get their first win of the T20 World Cup against Canada in New York on Friday, while India are set to take on fierce rivals Pakistan in a highly-anticipated match-up on Sunday.