GEORGETOWN : Guyanese Singh leads USA to victory over Ireland in first T20

GEORGETOWN : Guyanese left-hander Gajanand struck a career-best knock to lift USA to a historic win over Ireland in the first T20 International in Lauderhill, Florida.

Reduced to 16-4, USA roared back to post 188-6 and then limited Ireland to 162-6 to win by 26 runs.

Singh, who has played 10 First-Class matches for Guyana and also represented the Guyana Amazon Warriors, hit five sixes and three fours in 65 off 42 balls to topscore in USA’s innings.

The 34-year-old also scored an even half-century in his last game, against Argentina in November, which incidentally was the first time he batted in a T20 International.

The Berbician put on 110 for the fifth wicket with Sushant Modani, who made 50 off 39 balls to dig USA out of trouble, before Marty Kain put the finishing touches to the innings with a rapid 39* off 15 balls (3x4s, 3x6s).

Barry McCarthy took 4-30 for Ireland.

In reply, the Irish, a Full Member of the ICC with Test status, fell short of the target as USA took a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Lorcan Tucker led the way with 57* off 49 (3x4s, 2x6s) and opener Paul Stirling made 31 off 15 (6x4s).

Bowling for USA, Saurabh Netravalkar took 2-26, Nisarg Patel 2-27 and Ali Khan 2-30.

The two sides clash in the second and final T20 International on Thursday from 20:00h, followed by a three-match ODI series between December 26-30, all in Lauderhill.