![Matt Hollard picked up 3 wickets against India in 1st T20I [Source: @cricketireland/x.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1782535757213_MattHollardpickedup3wicketsagainstIndiain1stT20I.jpg?type=hq)
Matt Hollard picked up 3 wickets against India in 1st T20I [Source: @cricketireland/x.com]
The India vs Ireland T20Is were supposed to be a cakewalk for the T20 World champions, India, but the series opener turned out to be a nightmare for the newly appointed captain, Shreyas Iyer. Ireland was not a major threat for the Indian batters in a tricky run-chase, but Matt Hollard came out of syllabus for the Men in Blue.
Chasing 183 shouldn’t have been an issue for the famed indian batting lineup, but a spirited Irish performance dismantled the Indian batters, and the assault was led by Hollard, who bamboozled the opponent and picked up 3 crucial wickets to create history for his side.
Hollard's 3-fer gives Ireland victory over India
India won the toss and Shreyas Iyer, the newly appointed captain, elected to field first. The decision worked in India’s favour in the first 15 overs before Gareth Delany turned things around and helped Ireland pose an imposing target.
While Lorcan Tucker scored 50 valiant runs, it was Delany who scored a quickfire 49 off 32 balls and it helped Ireland breach the 180-run mark.
In reply, India were never really in the hunt as they lost a flurry of wickets. Sanju Samson departed cheaply, and then it was the Hollard show as he sent back the dangerous Ishan Kishan for just 1, and followed it up with the prized scalp of Shreyas Iyer.
The pacer came back to knock over Washington Sundar as he ended the 1st T20I with match figures of 3 for 28 in four overs, and was awarded the Player of the Match.
Who is Matt Hollard, the Irish bowler India struggled against
A 27-year-old wily pacer, Matt Hollard is deceptive with his pace and can generate extra bounce that often troubles batters.
A right-arm pacer by nature, the India vs Ireland game was Hollard’s maiden international assignment for Ireland, and in his debut match, he made the Indian batters dance to his tunes.
Also Read: All Unwanted Records By India After 1st Ever Defeat vs Ireland On Shreyas Iyer’s Captaincy Debut
Hollard doesn’t have much experience in the domestic circuit, but he has done enough to earn an international call-up for the India series. At the first-class level, the pacer has only played five matches, and has scalped 9 wickets.
In List-A cricket, the Irish star has played just 4 games, but has plucked 12 wickets. Moreover, he has also taken part in 15 T20 matches, and has taken 20 wickets, with an economy of 9.92.
Interestingly, had the likes of Mark Adair and Josh Little been fit, Hollard might not have featured vs India. However, he seized the opportunity with both hands and won the Player of the Match award.
Why Hollard was successful against India?
One advantage Hollard had against India was that the Men in Blue had never played against him, and that made the Irish pacer an X-factor in the first T20I.
Second, he used the surface to his advantage as the pacer was able to generate extra bounce and was constantly troubling the Indian batters. Moreover, he was deceptively quick, and hardly gave India any time to adjust to his lines and lengths.
Also Read: Abhishek Sharma Gives Exact Reason For India's Shocking Defeat Vs Ireland
