Umran Malik only bowled one over in his debut match for India against Ireland, but played a crucial role in his second game for the side as the visitors clinched a 2-0 series win in Dublin. The 22-year-old speedster was tasked with defending 17 runs in the all-important final over of the innings, and even as he conceded 9 runs off the first three balls, Umran made a splendid comeback to secure a four-run victory for the side.
The pacer also picked his first wicket in India colours during the game, as he dismissed wicketkeeper-batter Lorcan Tucker on 5 in the 14th over. He had bowled three extras (2 wides, 1 no-ball) in the over, but remained undeterred even as Ireland were cruising in the run-chase, eventually dismissing Tucker with a full delivery onto the stumps. The batter, in a bid to loft the delivery over the boundary, failed to time the ball to perfection and was caught near the long-on boundary.
Watch Umran’s heartwarming reaction after his first wicket in international cricket here:
Earlier, Deepak Hooda (104) and Sanju Samson (77) forged a record 176-run stand for the second wicket, that helped India reach a strong score of 225/7 in 20 overs. However, Ireland gave India a scare as captain Andrew Balbirnie (60), Paul Stirling (40), Harry Tector (39), George Dockrell (34*) and Mark Adair (23*) all played impressive knocks to take the home side close to a stunning upset in Dublin.
Umran ended with figures of 1/42 in four overs, but was still the third-most-expensive bowler in the Indian innings. While Harshal Patel registered figures of 1/54, Bhuvneshwar Kumar took a wicket while conceding 46 runs in four overs. Spinner Axar Patel, who bowled only 2 overs, conceded 12 while youngster Ravi Bishnoi ended with figures of 1/41.
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