India rout Ireland on minefield New York pitch

Ireland became the latest victim to New York’s drop-in pitch when they were shot out for 96 to hand India a comfortable win by eight wickets in their Group A T20 World Cup match played on Wednesday.

Two days ago at the same venue Sri Lanka batting first were bundled out for 77 to lose to South Africa.

Yesterday’s surface was no better than the one Sri Lankan and South African batsmen struggled to put bat to ball. It once again proved a deadly mix for the pacers and, docile for spin. Following that game the ground and its conditions were already under scrutiny. After yesterday’s game more questions will be asked especially with the big India v Pakistan encounter to be played at this venue on Sunday.

Ireland put into bat first were just blown away by a quality performance from the Indian seamers with Hardik Pandya taking a three-fer, while Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj being among the wickets as well. They feasted on the prodigious movement on offer, the variable bounce and the two-paced nature of the surface.

Arshdeep struck twice in his second over to send back the Ireland openers and it was just the start as the rest of the pacers joined the party to reduce the score to 50/8. Gareth Delany (26) and Josh Little (14) threw their bats around and added 27 for the ninth wicket and that was the highest partnership of the innings. Bumrah broke that partnership and a mix-up between the last pair ended Ireland's innings at 96.

India chased down the target of 97 with plenty of time to spare, but they had to do it with some bruises to show for it. Rohit Sharma hit on the arm by Little was in some discomfort and retired hurt soon after completing his fifty (52 off 37 balls, 4 fours, 3 sixes), and Rishabh Pant took a number of blows as well, managing to just about hang in and finish it off with a six. There were just too many deliveries spitting up off a length on a pitch that was a minefield for the batters.

Scores: Ireland 96 (16) (Gareth Delany 26, Arshdeep Singh 2/35, Jasprit Bumrah 2/6, Hardik Pandya 3/27)

India 97-2 (12.2) (Rohit Sharma rtd ht 52, Rishabh Pant 36*)