Ravi Bishnoi pointed out how fickle nature of T20 format specially if external forces (read inclement weather) ends up having the last laugh. Something similar transpired during the series opening T20I between India and Ireland in Dublin on Friday.
Chasing 140, India were on a solid ground when their opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad had added 46 runs.
Right after the fielding restrictions were lifted, Ireland fast bowler Craig Young landed two blows in as many deliveries sending back Jaiswal on 24 with Tilak Varma registering a golden duck.
Sanju Samson walked in next and he successfully negotiated the hat-trick ball, taking a single to get off the mark. Gaikwad then left the bouncer that followed and by then, the intensity of the rain became became heavy enough for the umpires to call for the covers.
India were 47/2 in 6.5 overs and the match didn’t resume. And as per DLS method, they were ahead by a couple of runs at the stage meaning they were declared winners by a slim margin.
“Lucky one run for us,” Bishnoi chuckled during the post-match interaction with the media.
“The atmosphere (at The Village) was similar when I came here last year for both Sanju Samson and DK (Dinesh Karthik) bhaiya. They have a good fan following here,” he added.
Ireland were in dire straits when India had reduced them to 59/6 in 10.3 overs. The pair of Barry McCarthy and Curtis Campher did a tremendous job to rebuild the innings with a 57-run partnership.
Campher would be dismissed for 39 but McCarthy remained unbeaten on 51 as Ireland finished with 139/7 in 20 overs.
“Ireland have been doing well (in T20s). In T20 format, you cannot take anyone lightly. One over can change the game. If we hadn’t lost two wickets in the last over, it would have made a difference of 12 runs. Sanju bhaiya’s one run won us the game. In the short format there’s no weak or strong team,” Bishnoi said.
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