Ireland have secured a first ever victory over India in any cricket format after producing a superb performance to win their series opener.
The T20 World Cup champions were overwhelming favourites to come out on top in both matches against an Ireland side that were missing a number of key players, but the crowd in Stormont were left stunned as the Irish excelled with both bat and ball.
After it was confirmed the visitors wouldn't be handing an international debut to superstar Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, India won the toss and chose to bowl first.
India had made an impressive start as they restricted Ireland to 51/4 - dismissing both openers and the in-form Harry Tector for a duck in the process.
Middle order duo of Lorcan Tucker (50) and Gareth Delany (49) led the recovery for the hosts and their contributions helped Ireland post 182-9 from their 20 overs.
Despite a late flurry of runs, India would still have fancied their chances of chasing down the target - especially when opener Abhishek Sharma reached his half-century off just 20 balls.
Ireland had other ideas however and their effective bowling unit managed to take key wickets at crucial times and when the impressive Matthew Humphreys took his third wicket of the innings to dismiss Arshdeep Singh, a shock 34-run victory had been completed.
The second and final match of the T20I series will be played at the same venue on Sunday 28th June.
