ZIM VS IRE 1ST T20I

Right then, that’s it from this nail-biting game but there’s plenty more action remaining in this series. The second T20I of this 3-match series will be played at the same venue on Saturday, December 9th. That game will begin at 4.30 pm IST (11.00 am GMT). But as you know, you can always join us early for the build-up. Until then, goodbye and cheers!

The captain of Zimbabwe, Sikandar Raza is the Player of the Match for his all-round brilliance. He says that it was nice to be part of history and credits the fans for coming out to watch. Feels that Ireland got 5-10 runs too many but applauds the way Delany batted. Mentions that he was pretty happy to chase 148 at the halfway mark. Shares that the most important thing is that they got over the line and gave something for the fans to cheer. On his performance, he says that he is never a guy who looks into these things. Adds that there were a lot of other good contributions as well. On his animated chat with the Irish players, he says that what happens on the field, stays on the field. Adds that they shook hands and everything is fine.

Paul Stirling, the losing Ireland skipper is up for a chat. He says that it was a brilliant game and hoped that it entertained the spectators. Adds that they will assess and talk about what went wrong in the game. Shares that they lost wickets at crucial points and that they should have got over 160 easily. Mentions that they will speak in the dressing room and come out better in the next two games. Closes by saying that they kept picking wickets regularly but luads Sikandar Raza who played a brilliant knock and took the game away from them.

Time for the Post-Match Presentations...

Earlier in the game, Ireland posted a below-par score of 147 for 8. After putting into bat first, the Irish got off to a brilliant start courtesy of their skipper Stirling and Andy Balbirnie. The duo added 44 for the first wicket inside the first five overs and set the tone early. However, Zimbabwe came back nicely and kept picking wickets at regular intervals. The middle-order batters got starts but none of them could bat along the innings. Gareth Delany, batting at number 8, provided the flourish at the backend by taking 20 runs off the final over and took his side to a competitive total. Sikandar Raza was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 28 in his spell while Ngarava and Muzarabani chipped in with two each. Zimbabwe did well for most of the game and came out victorious in the end by just one wicket.

The Irish bowlers did not have a huge total to defend but they gave it their all with the ball and in the field. Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Craig Young, and Joshua Little all chipped in with two each while George Dockrell took the solitary wicket of Wesley Madhevere. Barry McCarthy had 9 runs to defend in the final over but a couple of poor balls and lapses in the field took the game away from the visitors. The Men in Green will hope to come back with a better effort in the upcoming games.

Chasing 148 for the win, the hosts Zimbabwe got off to a poor start and were reduced to 21 for 2 inside the first four overs. Sikandar Raza formed important partnerships with Wesley Madhevere and Ryan Burl through the middle as wickets kept falling around him. He single-handedly anchored the innings with an excellent 42-ball 65 with five boundaries and two maximums. Clive Madande played a quickfire cameo of 20 from 11 and helped his skipper in the middle. Raza departed in the penultimate over with his side still requiring 11 runs to win. The lower order got a couple of boundaries away and a slight fumble by Lorcan Tucker in the last ball allowed Zimbabwe to get over the finish line.

Phew! What a humdinger we have witnessed at the Harare Sports Club! Zimbabwe pulled off a historic chase and got over the line by just one wicket off the final ball in the match. This game will go down in the history books as Zimbabwe takes the 1-0 lead in this 3-match T20I series.

Unreal scenes at the Harare Sports Club! Zimbabwe win it by the barest of margins! Barry McCarthy charges in from over the wicket and hurls it full and straight, at the stumps, Blessing Muzarabani backs away and tries to launch this one down the ground. Gets an inside edge that races behind the wicket. Lorcan Tucker fails to read the bounce and to make matters worse for him, he fails to get his body behind the line of the ball. The ball sneaks through his gloves and rolls towards the vacant fine leg region. The fielder in the deep runs around to cut it off but he cannot prevent Blessing Muzarabani from coming back for the second. He leaps in delight and so do the Zimbabwean fans who have witnessed a game they will remember for the years to come. Zimbabwe win by 1 wicket and go 1-0 up in the series!

Oh my my! This game is going down to the wire. The last man Blessing Muzarabani walks out to bat with his side requiring 2 off the final ball. Can he be the hero or the Irish pull it off? The super-over is also a possibility here.

OUT! WHAT A CATCH! Mark Adair, you beauty! Takes a stunner to send Richard Ngarava packing! Barry McCarthy angles it across, on a short of a length, outside off, Richard Ngarava tries to flay this one away with the angle but gets a thickish outside edge that looks to be heading over short third man. Mark Adair is quick to start running sideways and keeps his eyes all the way through. He pouches it with both hands and ensures that the ball does not pop out when his elbow hits the ground. Zimbabwe need 2 from the last ball now!

FOUR! Pulled away for a boundary! Offers pace this time and bowls it back of a length, over middle, Richard Ngarava waits back in his crease and swings to hammer the pull between deep mid-wicket and deep square leg for a boundary. Richard Ngarava has taken Zimbabwe close to the finish line with this hit!

Pulled hard but straight to the fielder! Shorter and slower, on middle, Trevor Gwandu nails the pull along the ground but picks out George Dockrell in the deep. A single off it then!

On a length, at the stumps, Trevor Gwandu stays leg side of the ball and lofts it back over the bowler's head. The long off fielder runs around and cuts it off. Two runs taken and Zimbabwe now need 7 runs!

Play and a miss! Starts off on a short of a length, slower as well, outside off, Trevor Gwandu reaches out to hit it across the line but fails to connect.

Zimbabwe needs 9 runs to win off the final over. Barry McCarthy will bowl the 20th over.

Length on the pad, nudged through mid-wicket for a single to end the over. Zimbabwe need 9 runs from the final over!