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In a nail-biting high-scoring thriller, India held nerves to defeat Ireland in the second T20I to register a clean sweep on Tuesday.
Batting first, the visitors set up a massive total of 225/7 thanks to exceptional knocks by Deepak Hooda and Sanju Samson. The duo lit up The Village Ground in Dublin by smacking Irish bowlers all-around the park.
Hooda brought up his maiden T20I hundred, and Samson coasted to his first T20I fifty as the pair added 176 for the second wicket, ensuring India post a mammoth total on the board.
Ireland almost did the unthinkable in response, exhibiting a counter-attack and punishing Indian bowlers just like the ‘Men in Blue’ did in the first innings. The hosts took the chase to the last over with six needed off the final ball. Young pacer Umran Malik, however, held his nerves as India managed to survive a might scare and win the contest by only four runs.
Captain Andy Balbirnie (60 off 37), opener Paul Stirling (40 off 18), middle-order batters Harry Tector (39 off 28) and George Dockrell (34 not out off 16) did their best but couldn’t take Ireland home in a high-scoring contest.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
2⃣ Matches
1⃣5⃣1⃣ Runs@HoodaOnFire put on a stunning show with the bat & bagged the Player of the Series award as #TeamIndia completed a cleansweep in the 2-match T20I series against Ireland. 👍 👍 #IREvIND pic.twitter.com/UuBKCx1HNj— BCCI (@BCCI) June 28, 2022
Deepak Hooda has put on a show 💫
He becomes the fourth Indian to score a T20I ton 🙌#IREvIND | 📝 Scorecard: https://t.co/HLeRsduoyV pic.twitter.com/KFN5pFc1HN
— ICC (@ICC) June 28, 2022
Well played Deepak Hooda👏🏻👏🏻.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) June 28, 2022
Absolute carnage from Deepak Hooda as he brings up his maiden T20I century from 55 balls. 🔥💥
Well played, @HoodaOnFire! 👏🏻👏🏻#PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #TeamIndia #IREvIND pic.twitter.com/SFd3o3nKkn
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) June 28, 2022
Deepak Hooda owned this series. Totally. And he happens to be the man who’s not got enough chances…but how do you accommodate him when the senior guys are back? Run-up to the World Cup is going to be really entertaining…
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) June 28, 2022
Deepak Hooda is the first Indian to score a men's international hundred in Ireland.
Previously the highest for IND in IRE was 99 by Sachin Tendulkar in 2007 (against South Africa).#IREvIND
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) June 28, 2022
https://twitter.com/Fancricket12/status/1541827516167385088
Maiden T20I fifty for Deepak Hooda in just 27 balls!
Har Bowler ko Pakad ke Koota!
Apna Hooda Deepak Hooda!Image Credits – BCCI pic.twitter.com/V41ISrkyw4
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) June 28, 2022
What a phenomenal rise it’s been for Deepak Hooda! Unique way of creating opportunities for big hitting. Steps out at the last second to surprise the seam bowlers.Ends up hitting boundaries off good balls bowled in the stumps.Nightmare for bowlers! #INDvIRE
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) June 28, 2022
During the IPL, Spoke to @HoodaOnFire abt getting 💯 but even better for him to get the century for Team India 🇮🇳! So so proud of this boy 👏 pic.twitter.com/fh7BzgvOma
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) June 28, 2022
Hundred for Deepak Hooda. 4th Indian man to hit a ton in T20Is (Raina, Rohit, KL are others). Feel he's a certainty for T20 WC: can bat anywhere, bowls a bit & an excellent fielder. Won't be surprised if he plays the 2023 WC
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) June 28, 2022
Deepak Hooda and Sanju Samson have registered the highest partnership for India in T20I cricket history. #INDvIRE #IREvsIND #SanjuSamson #DeepakHooda pic.twitter.com/lcOcxLYO29
— Ujjawal Sinha (@UjjawallSinha) June 28, 2022
Deepak Hooda, playing just his second series for India won the player of the series award – A series to remember Hooda. pic.twitter.com/jMg8Bnm2Ql
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 28, 2022
Deepak Hooda has been a revelation ever since that baroda incident. Guy's been batting like he's got a point to prove every single time.
— Heisenberg ☢ (@internetumpire) June 28, 2022