Dublin

Deepak Hooda’s maiden T20 international hundred along with Sanju Samson’ s 77 and Umran Malik’s heroic last over helped India make a clean sweep of the two-match T20 series against Ireland on Tuesday night.

Chasing 226, Ireland needing 6 off the last ball fell four runs short of the target.

Winning the toss and electing to bat India lost Ishan Kishan early for just 3 runs. This brought Hooda to the crease who along with Samson stitched the highest T20 partnership for any wicket for India. The duo put together 176 in just 87 balls.

Hooda was eventually out for 104 off 57 balls. He has now become only the fourth Indian after Suresh Raina, KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma to score a T20 century for India. His innings was packed with nine fours and 6 sixes.

Chasing to level the series, Andre Balbirnie top-scored for the hosts with 60 off just 37 balls. Other leading scorers for Ireland were Paul Stirling who hit an 18-ball 40 and Harry Tector who scored 39 runs off 28 balls.

The spirited performance by the Irish batters brought the equation down to 17 runs in the last over. Indian skipper Hardik Pandya handed over the ball to Umran Malik who playing in only his second international managed to keep his nerves and finish the job for India.

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Deepak Hooda was declared the player of the match.