Andrew Balbirnie becomes second Irishman with 2,000 T20I runs: Stats
Andrew Balbirnie has become the second Ireland batter to complete 2,000 T20I runs. The right-handed batter got to the feat in the second T20I versus India in Dublin. Overall, he became the 24th batter to get to the mark in T20Is. Only current skipper Paul Stirling (3,408) owns more T20I runs among Ireland players. The former smashed a 51-ball 72 in a losing cause.
Balbirnie slams his 10th T20I fifty
Opener Balbirnie kept Ireland alive in the run-chase despite losing his batting partners. He continued with his onslaught even though the hosts were tottering on 63/4. The Ireland batter brought up his 10th T20I fifty off just 39 balls in the 13th over. He kept on hammering the Indian bowlers before Arshdeep Singh dismissed him (72 off 51 balls).
Ireland's second-highest run-scorer
Balbirnie made his T20I debut versus back Scotland in 2015. He now owns 2,041 runs from 95 T20Is at an average of 23.45. His strike rate in this regard reads 125.29. The tally includes 10 half-centuries, with his highest score being 83. During the course of his knock, Balbirnie also displaced Kevin O'Brien (1,973) as Ireland's second-highest run-scorer in T20Is.
His run as captain
Balbirnie stepped down as Ireland's white-ball captain following his side's failure at the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers last month. He led the Irish side in 52 T20Is, scoring 1,067 runs at an average and strike rate of 21.34 and 119.35, respectively. The 32-year-old scored four half-centuries as the T20I skipper with 75* being his highest score.
Balbirnie has over 3,300 T20 runs
As mentioned, Balbirnie averages just over 23 in T20Is. Coming to Balbirnie's overall T20 record, he has scored 3,300-plus runs in 149 T20 matches, striking at over 128. He scored 17 fifties in the format.
The summary of 2nd T20I
India had a patchy start after Ireland invited them to bat. The visitors were reduced to 34/2 before Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson got them past 100. Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube then took charge, smashing 42 runs off the last two overs (185/5). For Ireland, Balbirnie emerged as the lone warrior, with others failing to capitalize. Ireland eventually lost by 33 runs (152/8).
