Table of Contents
The India National Cricket Team vs Ireland Cricket Team Match Scorecard for the first T20 International of India’s 2026 tour of Ireland records a historic victory for the hosts. Ireland defeated India by 34 runs on 26 June 2026 at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast. The result marked Ireland’s first-ever win against India in international cricket.
Ireland batted first after India won the toss and elected to field. The hosts scored 182/9 in 20 overs, with captain Lorcan Tucker making 50 runs and Gareth Delany adding 49. India began its chase aggressively through Abhishek Sharma, who scored 49 from just 20 balls, but Ireland’s bowlers kept taking wickets and eventually dismissed India for 148 in 18.5 overs.
Matt Hollard and Matthew Humphreys took three wickets each for Ireland, while debutant Jai Moondra claimed two. Their bowling performances helped Ireland defend a competitive total and take a 1–0 lead in the two-match series.
India vs Ireland 1st T20I Match Summary
The opening T20I was played in Belfast on 26 June 2026. India entered the contest as the stronger side on paper, but Ireland produced an impressive all-round performance to secure a memorable win.
After India chose to field, Ireland lost early wickets but recovered through its middle order. Tucker’s half-century and Delany’s 49 gave the home side the momentum needed to reach 182/9. India then made a fast start but struggled to build lasting partnerships as Ireland’s bowlers continued to take wickets.
| Match detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Ireland vs India, 1st T20I |
| Series | India tour of Ireland 2026 |
| Date | 26 June 2026 |
| Venue | Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast |
| Format | Men’s T20 International |
| Toss | India won and elected to field |
| Ireland score | 182/9 in 20 overs |
| India score | 148 all out in 18.5 overs |
| Result | Ireland won by 34 runs |
| Player of the Match | Matt Hollard |
Ireland’s 34-run victory was built on a strong recovery with the bat and a disciplined bowling performance. India needed 183 runs to win but lost wickets too frequently to sustain the chase.
Ireland Batting Scorecard
Ireland finished its innings with 182 runs for nine wickets in 20 overs. The hosts initially struggled at 30/3, but Tucker and Delany helped rebuild the innings. Tucker scored 50 from 36 balls, while Delany narrowly missed a half-century with 49 from 32 deliveries.
George Dockrell also contributed 19 from 10 balls, helping Ireland accelerate in the closing overs. The team collected valuable runs late in the innings and reached a total that put considerable pressure on India’s batting lineup.
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Tector | c Shreyas Iyer b Harshit Rana | 17 | 12 | 2 | 1 |
| Ross Adair | c Sanju Samson b Harshit Rana | 12 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Harry Tector | c Sanju Samson b Arshdeep Singh | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Lorcan Tucker (c, wk) | c Tilak Varma b Harshit Rana | 50 | 36 | 5 | 2 |
| Ben Calitz | c Prasidh Krishna b Shivam Dube | 15 | 11 | 0 | 2 |
| Gareth Delany | c Axar Patel b Arshdeep Singh | 49 | 32 | 3 | 3 |
| George Dockrell | c Arshdeep Singh b Axar Patel | 19 | 10 | 2 | 1 |
| Liam McCarthy | c Tilak Varma b Axar Patel | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Matthew Humphreys | Run out | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Jai Moondra | Not out | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Matt Hollard | Did not bat | — | — | — | — |
| Extras | Byes, leg-byes, wides and no-ball | 9 | — | — | — |
| Total | 9 wickets | 182 | 20 overs | — | — |
Tucker’s innings was central to Ireland’s recovery. After the early wickets, he kept the innings moving and ensured the team did not lose its scoring momentum. Delany supported him with an attacking innings that included three sixes.
Ireland’s acceleration in the later overs was another decisive factor. Dockrell added quick runs, and the lower order contributed enough to push the total above 180. That score gave the bowlers a substantial target to defend against India’s powerful batting lineup.
India Bowling Scorecard
India’s bowlers took nine wickets but could not prevent Ireland from posting a high total. Harshit Rana led the attack with three wickets, while Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel claimed two wickets each. Shivam Dube also took one wicket.
Prasidh Krishna had an expensive outing, conceding 57 runs in four overs. Ireland’s late scoring made it difficult for India to restrict the hosts to a lower total.
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arshdeep Singh | 4 | 0 | 28 | 2 | 7.00 |
| Harshit Rana | 4 | 0 | 24 | 3 | 6.00 |
| Prasidh Krishna | 4 | 0 | 57 | 0 | 14.25 |
| Shivam Dube | 3 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 6.00 |
| Axar Patel | 4 | 0 | 33 | 2 | 8.25 |
| Washington Sundar | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 19.00 |
Rana’s three wickets helped India put pressure on Ireland during the opening overs. However, Tucker and Delany rebuilt the innings, and the home side scored freely toward the end.
India’s bowling figures show how important it is to control the scoring rate in T20 cricket. Taking wickets is valuable, but expensive overs can allow a batting side to recover quickly and reach a total that is difficult to chase.
India Batting Scorecard
India needed 183 runs to win, requiring a strong start and consistent contributions from the middle order. Abhishek Sharma delivered an aggressive innings of 49 from 20 balls, hitting seven fours and two sixes. His quick scoring briefly gave India momentum.
However, India lost wickets at regular intervals. Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, and captain Shreyas Iyer were dismissed early, leaving the middle order under pressure. Tilak Varma scored 19, while Shivam Dube contributed 25 from 14 balls, but Ireland continued to take wickets.
India was eventually bowled out for 148 in 18.5 overs.
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | c Ben Calitz b Liam McCarthy | 49 | 20 | 7 | 2 |
| Sanju Samson (wk) | b Jai Moondra | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Ishan Kishan | c Lorcan Tucker b Matthew Hollard | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Shreyas Iyer (c) | c George Dockrell b Matthew Hollard | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Tilak Varma | c Ross Adair b Matthew Humphreys | 19 | 21 | 3 | 0 |
| Washington Sundar | c Ben Calitz b Matthew Hollard | 9 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Shivam Dube | c and b Jai Moondra | 25 | 14 | 1 | 2 |
| Axar Patel | c Tim Tector b Gareth Delany | 15 | 16 | 1 | 0 |
| Harshit Rana | c Ben Calitz b Matthew Humphreys | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 |
| Arshdeep Singh | c Tim Tector b Matthew Humphreys | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Prasidh Krishna | Not out | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Extras | Byes, leg-byes, wides and no-ball | 11 | — | — | — |
| Total | All out | 148 | 18.5 overs | — | — |
Abhishek Sharma’s 49 was the highlight of India’s innings. He scored rapidly and gave the visitors hope of chasing the target. However, his dismissal prevented India from building on that start.
Dube’s 25 from 14 balls provided another burst of scoring, but Ireland removed him at a critical stage. The lower order could not recover from the loss of wickets, and India fell 34 runs short.
Ireland Bowling Scorecard
Ireland’s bowling performance was the decisive difference between the two teams. Matt Hollard and Matthew Humphreys took three wickets each, while Jai Moondra claimed two wickets on his debut. Gareth Delany also picked up one wicket.
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Humphreys | 3.5 | 0 | 38 | 3 | 9.91 |
| Jai Moondra | 4 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 6.25 |
| Liam McCarthy | 3 | 0 | 29 | 1 | 9.67 |
| Matt Hollard | 4 | 0 | 28 | 3 | 7.00 |
| Harry Tector | 3 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 7.33 |
| Gareth Delany | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3.00 |
Hollard’s three wickets disrupted India’s middle order, while Humphreys removed important batters during the chase. Moondra also made a strong impression, taking two wickets for 25 runs in four overs.
The bowlers combined attacking spells with pressure at important moments. Rather than allowing India to build a long partnership, Ireland kept taking wickets and eventually dismissed the visitors before the end of the 19th over.
Key Players in India vs Ireland
Lorcan Tucker — Ireland
Tucker scored 50 from 36 balls and helped Ireland recover after losing three early wickets. His innings provided stability and allowed the team to build a competitive total.
Gareth Delany — Ireland
Delany made 49 from 32 deliveries, including three fours and three sixes. His aggressive batting helped Ireland accelerate and push the total to 182.
Matt Hollard — Ireland
Hollard took three wickets for 28 runs. His bowling performance earned him the Player of the Match award and played a major role in India’s collapse.
Matthew Humphreys — Ireland
Humphreys also took three wickets, conceding 38 runs in 3.5 overs. His wickets helped Ireland finish the innings and prevent a late Indian recovery.
Abhishek Sharma — India
Abhishek scored 49 from just 20 balls, striking seven fours and two sixes. Although he did not reach a half-century, his innings was India’s strongest batting contribution.
Harshit Rana — India
Rana claimed three wickets for 24 runs in four overs. He was India’s most successful bowler and helped keep Ireland’s total from becoming even larger.
Turning Points That Decided the Match
1. Ireland’s recovery from 30/3
Ireland lost three wickets early, but Tucker and Delany steadied the innings. Their partnership changed the momentum and allowed the hosts to post a strong total.
2. Delany’s aggressive scoring
Delany’s 49 from 32 balls helped Ireland accelerate during the middle and death overs. His contribution was important in pushing the total beyond 180.
3. Abhishek Sharma’s explosive start
Abhishek’s 49 from 20 balls gave India a promising beginning. However, his dismissal at 80/4 shifted the pressure back onto the Indian middle order.
4. Hollard and Humphreys took key wickets
Both bowlers claimed three wickets, preventing India from building the partnerships needed to complete the chase.
5. India was bowled out before 19 overs
India finished on 148 all out in 18.5 overs. The loss of all ten wickets meant the team could not use its remaining overs to close the gap.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who won the India vs Ireland first T20I in 2026?
Ireland won by 34 runs on 26 June 2026 at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast.
2. What was Ireland’s score against India?
Ireland scored 182/9 in 20 overs. Lorcan Tucker made 50 runs, while Gareth Delany scored 49.
3. What was India’s final score?
India was bowled out for 148 in 18.5 overs while chasing a target of 183.
4. Who was Player of the Match?
Matt Hollard received the award after taking three wickets for 28 runs.
5. How many wickets did Harshit Rana take?
Harshit Rana took three wickets for 24 runs in four overs, making him India’s leading wicket-taker in the match.
Conclusion
The first T20I between India and Ireland on 26 June 2026 produced a memorable result, with Ireland defeating India by 34 runs. Ireland’s total of 182/9 was built around Lorcan Tucker’s half-century and Gareth Delany’s 49. India responded with an aggressive start from Abhishek Sharma, but the visitors were eventually dismissed for 148.
Matt Hollard and Matthew Humphreys took three wickets each, while Jai Moondra impressed with two wickets on debut. Their combined efforts helped Ireland secure its first-ever international victory over India and take a 1–0 lead in the series.
For cricket fans reviewing the scorecard, the match highlights the importance of rebuilding after early wickets, accelerating during the final overs, and maintaining pressure throughout a T20 chase. Ireland executed those elements effectively to record a historic win.
One Comment