Despite Ireland's loss, Harry Tector impresses one all with his batting exploits in the first T20I

The result of the first T20 International between India and Ireland didn't go down in favour of the Irish. Still, there was a bright spot for the hosts in the form of young all-rounder Harry Tector who impressed one and all with his batting exploits yesterday.

22-year-old Harry Tector is an Irish all-rounder who made his first-class debut in May 2018 for the Northern Knights during the Cricket Ireland Inter-Provincial Championship at Comber. 

On his debut, Tector scored 10 & 22 against Leinster Lightning and claimed three wickets in the same match with his handy off-breaks. Tector was named as the rising star of Ireland's squad following the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup, wherein he took eight wickets and emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the tournament. 

Tector was named as the captain of Ireland's squad for the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup. Following Ireland's matches in the tournament, the International Cricket Council (ICC) named Tector as the rising star of the squad. He was the leading wicket-taker for Ireland in the tournament, with eight wickets. He made his ODI debut for Ireland, against England, on 30 July 2020.

On a day when the rest of his Irish teammates could not contribute significantly, Tector impressed a packed crowd in Malahide when he blasted 64 off just 33 deliveries against an Indian bowling lineup that boasted of the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yuzvendra Chahal. 

The 22-year-old kept his composure and helped his team recover from the tangle they found themselves in early in the innings. Ireland had slipped to 22-3 within four overs as the seamers, led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, made full use of the swinging conditions.  

Tector launched into left-arm spinner Axar Patel to get going and hit three sixes and six boundaries in a stunning knock. Despite being a 12-over game, Tector did not try anything fancy but kept the scoreboard moving with orthodox shots. 

Tector's ability to pierce the gaps on the off-side stood out in his innings. The youngster's hitting prowess, specially through the off side, impressed India's stand-in skipper Hardik Pandya. 

"Oh, he (Harry Tector) played some fantastic shots. And obviously, he's 22. I think I have given him a bat as well. So maybe he can score some more sixes and maybe get an IPL contract," Hardik told the press after the 1st T20I in Dublin.