India crush Ireland in record victory to seal T20 series win in Dublin

India opener KL Rahul made 70 off 36 balls

India recorded their biggest T20 win as they hammered Ireland by 143 runs to win the one-sided Dublin series 2-0.

It was the second biggest victory in T20 history in terms of runs, with India posting 213-4 before bowling Ireland out for 70 in sunny Malahide.

KL Rahul made 70, Suresh Raina 69 and Hardik Pandya 32 not out off 12 balls, while spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav shared six wickets.

India begin a three-match T20 series against England on Tuesday.

That is followed by three one-day internationals and five Tests.

India, who won the opening T20 by 76 runs, passed 200 in consecutive T20s for the first time.

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Rahul and Raina punish Ireland

Ireland were once again punished after winning the toss and choosing to bowl in front of another capacity crowd in north Dublin.

India captain Virat Kohli, opening the batting, followed his two-ball duck in the first game with only nine.

But the tourists struck 13 sixes - Rahul hit six and Hardick four and Raina three - to take India past Wednesday's total of 208-5.

A rare highlight for Ireland was Kevin O'Brien taking two wickets in his first three balls.

Ireland subside with the bat

Skipper Gary Wilson was confident Ireland would push India closer on Friday, but they managed a meek response with the bat.

Umesh Yadav dismissed Paul Stirling with the second ball of the innings and Ireland never recovered.

William Porterfield, who was replaced by Wilson as limited-overs captain earlier this month, made 14 on his return.

William Porterfield is bowled by Umesh Yadav just moments after smashing a six at a sun-bathed Malahide

Wilson's 15 was the highest score as Ireland bettered their lowest T20 total - the 68 made against West Indies in 2010 - by only two runs.

India's spinners dominated again with Ireland unable to cope with the impressive Kuldeep Yadav and Chahal, who took 3-16 and 3-21 respectively.

India are second and Ireland 17th in the International Cricket Council's T20 rankings, and the gulf in class was evident in both matches.

What's next?

India meet England in T20s at Old Trafford, Cardiff and Bristol before the one-day series starts on 12 July.

Ireland have plenty to ponder and improve on for next year's World Twenty20 qualifiers, having missed out on a place at the 2019 50-over World Cup.

What they said

India captain Virat Kohli: "For us, the opposition doesn't really matter if we play to our strengths.

"Obviously the pitches will play a part but we know if they come hard, we have the batting power to go hard as well."

Ireland captain Gary Wilson: "I don't think the wicket would have been any different whether we had batted first or if we had bowled.

"There's plenty of lessons to learn, from batting both and bowling. When you look at it, we were playing against the best 14 or 15 players in the IPL over the two games."