Ireland stunned India by 34 runs at Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast on Friday, June 26 in first T20I of the two-match series. The victory marked Ireland’s first-ever triumph over Team India in international cricket.
Fielding first after winning the toss, India came up with a disappointing effort to allow Ireland to post 182-9. Ireland’s captain Lorcan Tucker top-scored with 50 off 36 balls, while Gareth Delany contributed a crucial 49 off 32 deliveries. For India, Harshit Rana stood out with 3-24, while Arshdeep Singh picked up 2-28.
In the chase, India kept losing wickets at regular intervals and never found themselves in a position from where they could challenge Ireland’s total. Opener Abhishek Sharma top-scored with 49 off 20, but the rest failed to make an impact. For Ireland, debutants Matthew Hollard (3-28) and Jai Moondra (2-25) stood out, while Matthew Humphreys picked up 3-38.
Following India’s T20I loss to Ireland in Belfast, we take a look at five of the biggest upsets in bilateral matches in the format.
#1 UAE beat New Zealand by 7 wickets – Dubai (2023)
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) stunned New Zealand by seven wickets at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in August 2023 in the second T20I of a three-match series. Bowling first after winning the toss, the UAE held the Black Caps to 142-8 and chased down the target in 15.4 overs.
Aayan Afzal Khan starred for the UAE with the ball, claiming 3-20, while Muhammad Jawadullah picked up 2-16. For New Zealand, Mark Chapman top-scored with 63 off 46. In the chase, skipper Muhammad Waseem top-scored for the UAE with 55 off 29 balls, while Asif Khan struck 48* off 29 balls.
#2 USA beat Bangladesh by 5 wickets – Prairie View (2024)
The United States of America (USA) stunned Bangladesh by five wickets in Prairie View in the first T20I of a three-match series in May 2024. After winning the toss and bowling first, USA held Bangladesh to 153-6. Steven Taylor starred for the fielding side, with 3-9, while three bowlers claimed one wicket each.
In the chase, USA got over the line in 19.3 overs. They recovered from 94-5 to register a famous win as Harmeet Singh (33* off 13) and Corey Anderson (34* off 25) featured in an unbroken 62-run stand for the sixth wicket. Harmeet struck two fours and three sixes in his blazing knock.
#3 Zimbabwe beat Pakistan by 19 runs – Harare (2021)
Zimbabwe pulled off a famous win against Pakistan in Harare in April 2021 in the second T20I of a three-match series. Bowling first after winning the toss, Pakistan held Zimbabwe to 118-9. The visitors, however, suffered a stunning batting collapse in the chase and were bundled out for 99 in 19.5 overs.
Luke Jongwe stood out for Zimbabwe with figures of 4-18 from 3.5 overs. He dismissed Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, and Arshad Iqbal. Ryan Burl (2-21) also chipped in with the wickets of Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Hafeez. For Pakistan, Babar scored 41 off 45, but the visitors never seemed in control in the chase.
#4 Ireland beat West Indies by 4 runs – St George’s (2020)
Ireland pulled off a famous T20I win over the West Indies at St George’s in Grenada in the first game of a three-match series in January 2020. Batting first after winning the toss, Ireland put up 208-7 on the board and then held the West Indies to 204-7, registering a thrilling triumph.
Opener Paul Stirling was the star of the show for Ireland, clobbering 95 off 47 with the aid of six fours and eight sixes. He added 154 for the first wicket with Kevin O’Brien (48 off 32) in 12.3 overs. In the chase, Evin Lewis slammed 53 off 29 for the Windies. However, Josh Little (3-29) produced a brilliant effort to stun the opposition, picking up two wickets in the high-pressure last over.
#5 Zimbabwe beat India by 13 runs – Harare (2024)
Zimbabwe stunned Team India by 13 runs in Harare in July 2024 in the first T20I of a five-match series. Playing their first match after being crowned T20 world champions, India suffered a shocking defeat against an unfancied Zimbabwe side in Shubman Gill’s first T20I as captain.
Bowling first in the low-scoring clash, India held Zimbabwe to 115-9 as Ravi Bishnoi shone with 4-13 from four overs, which included two maidens. Washington Sundar also chipped in with 2-11 from four overs. India, however, stumbled in the chase and were bowled out for 102 in 19.5 overs. Tendai Chatara claimed 3-16 from 3.5 overs, while Sikandar Raza picked up 3-25.
Edited by Renin Wilben Albert
