Matt Hollard described beating reigning T20 World Cup champions India on Ireland debut as “a dream come true” – and the historic triumph was made extra special with his family flying from South Africa to witness it.

The 27-year-old, who relocated to Ireland in recent years and plays his club cricket for Balbriggan, was named Player of the Match at Stormont in Belfast on Friday after collecting figures of 3/28.

Hollard wasted no time in making an immediate impact on the international stage, dismissing Ishan Kishan with just his second delivery, and then followed it up by collecting the scalps of Indian captain Shreyas Iyer and Washington Sundar.

He wasn’t the only Ireland debutant who delivered the goods – India-born bowler Jai Moondra, who moved to Ireland in 2021 to pursue a master's degree in electronics and communication, picked up two wickets, including one with his very first ball in international cricket.

placeholder image — Matthew Hollard picked up three wickets on his Ireland debut. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

They both played key roles in what was Ireland’s first-ever win against India, a cricketing powerhouse ranked number one in the T20 format.

Hollard and Moondra were handed their chance with the likes of Mark Adair, Josh Little and Barry McCarthy ruled out through injury, and certainly seized it.

"In all honesty, I never expected this,” Hollard told TNT Sports. “I always knew I had it, but to have a debut against India, it’s a dream come true, I couldn’t ask for any better.

"My family have flown out from Johannesburg to visit me, it’s a bit of a dream right now in all honesty.

"After that first ball I turned to Harry (Tector) and said ‘the first one is done!’. As soon as the ball went up, I stopped breathing for a minute, and then when Lorcan (Tucker) took the catch, all the emotions exploded out of me.

"It was really, really special. I have been wanting to come over to Ireland since 2019 but then Covid hit and there were a lot of complications, a lot of things happened which were a bit of a setback for me.

"My brother came first and he said ‘you have to come’. He pulled me over and ever since Cricket Ireland have treated me unbelievably well, they have backed me and I’m extremely grateful.”

Ireland will return to the same venue on Sunday looking to complete a historic series triumph.

Hollard and his Ireland team-mates could be coming up against 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who was left out of the opener but is in line to make an international debut this weekend.

As Hollard charged in on Friday, a number of family members watched on from the stands – while others were glued to the TV in South Africa.

"I haven’t seen them in a while and having them over here, nothing could be better right now,” he added. “Them seeing me receive my cap and cheering from the side, it’s unbelievable.

"To my family back home, I know all the boys are watching, all the cousins, you all supported and thanks for the messages.

"They’re drinking brandy and I already know it’s going down there!”