Ireland hit back to draw Twenty20 International series with victory over USA

Lorcan Tucker led Ireland to a nine-run win over the USA to draw their first Twenty20 series on American soil.

One day after the USA stunned the visitors in the first game, Ireland hit back courtesy of Tucker’s 84 runs from 56 balls to set a total of 150 in Lauderhill, Florida.

The hosts were unable to chase down Ireland, whose all-rounder Curtis Campher finished with four wickets while Tucker was awarded player of the match and series.

The United States could not to repeat their Twenty20 heroics on Thursday night as Ireland fought back courageously with a much-improved display.

Tucker’s swashbuckling 84 for the Irish and Campher’s bowling proved decisive for the men in green.

Ireland were smarting after losing emphatically in the first T20 of the series on Wednesday.

The US catching was on point with almost every chance sticking, the best of those efforts came when Marty Kain stooped low and pulled off a brilliant diving effort to dismiss William McClintock and leave the visitors in deep trouble at 96-6.

It was looking like it was going to be another torrid match for Ireland, who found themselves teetering on 128 – 8 with three overs left and when US skipper Patel produced an excellent piece of wicketkeeping by running out Barry McCarthy thanks to a classy dive and throw at the stumps, hopes were high of another famous US triumph.

Yet Tucker, who top scored for Ireland in the first match with an unbeaten 57, was ultimately the matchwinner with a fine innings of 84 from 56 balls which included three sixes and helped set what seemed an under-par target of 150.

In reply, the Americans started solidly, recovering from the unfortunate run-out of opener Ryan Scott to reach 34-1 from the first six overs.

However, Ireland’s bowling was much improved and it wasn’t until Gajanand Singh, who was the American match winner with the bat in the first game, came to the fore again and began to unleash some mighty blows.

The run-rate however was climbing with Campher the stand-out bowler for Ireland, finishing with four wickets.

The hosts hung in there but when Singh was trapped LBW by the dangerous Campher, the US were left with too much to do despite the best efforts of Sushant Modani, who smacked 27 from 15 including two maximums before being caught in the deep.

USA needed 17 from the last over but fell just short in an exciting finish.