A note before starting - I had to go back and change the title and running tournament totals for yesterday as I'd carried the wrong ones over. Writing while tired, and not having an editor, are a nuisance, eh?
Game One: Ireland 96 all out v 97/2 India - India WIN
This is today's only game as far as my timezone goes. It was the second game to be played at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.
The first match played here suggested the pitch had uneven pace, which makes things difficult for batters. This second outing seems to confirm the initial assessment. Beyond this the Kentucky Blue Grass used in the outfield seems to be poorly suited to allowing balls a smooth, swift, roll which limits boundaries.
With India undefeated by Ireland in eight T20 matches, and with the relative strengths of the squads, this was anticipated to be another win for the world's number one ranked team. India will be well pleased with the relative ease that they overcame a respected Associate nation.
Having seen Sri Lanka elect to bat first a few days before, India opted to put Ireland in to bat on winning the toss. The bowlers made full use of the opportunity given them, sharing the wickets about and conceding few runs. Bumrah's 2 wickets in 3 overs for only 6 runs is possibly the pick of them.
Gareth Delany scored over a quarter of Ireland's runs but fell to a poor attempt at scoring a risky run. Although, by this stage in the innings, the writing was already on the wall.
The uneven bounce which India's bowlers had used so well seemed to flatten out for Ireland's attack. The reality is they lack the pace and guile of their opponents.
That being said, they had enough to force Rohit Sharma to retire from injury, although he'd already scored a half-century by that point and the withdrawal was surely an abundance of caution to ensure he is available for the key game against Pakistan on Saturday 9th.
| Game | 4's | 6's | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland v India | 15 | 8 | 23 |
| Tournament | 141 | 60 | 201 |
Check back tomorrow for reviews & updated boundary totals.
With four matches in my timezone, it'll be a busy report.
text by stuartcturnbull. graphic by Mir Rammez Raja & edited by stuartcturnbull via postermywall