1st T20I, Harare, January 12, 2023, 04:30 PM
Ireland
114/10(19.2ov)
Zimbabwe
118/5(18.0ov)
Zimbabwe beat Ireland by 5 wickets
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Ryan Burl
Commentry
Right then, that is it from this game and it is Zimbabwe who lead the three-game T20I series 1-0. Ireland need to win the next game in order to make the final game interesting. The next game will be played on Saturday, the 14th of January, and will begin at 4.30 pm IST (11 am GMT) but you can join us a lot earlier for the build-up. Cheers!
Ryan Burl (4-0-29-3) is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his fantastic bowling. He says that it is good to get a chance and there are not many all-rounders on their team. Adds that the pitch was hard to bat on and it had assistance for the bowlers. Ends by saying that winning at the end matters and he would have loved it if they would have lost fewer wickets.
Craig Ervine, the captain of Zimbabwe says that their bowling performance was right up there and they were happy to chase a low score. Reckons that they could have been more clinical with the bat. Adds that they knew it was going to be a tricky wicket to chase and boundaries would be hard to come by but it was the dot balls that they would want to improve upon. On Ryan Burl, he says that he is a brilliant bowler and was able to get wickets here. Ends by joking about a catch that he dropped and says that he thought it wouldn't carry.
Ireland skipper, Andy Balbirnie says that it was a bit difficult as the score was not enough. Adds that 140 would have been a decent total and they could have done better. Says that they didn't bat well and that is what cost them the game. Ends by saying they need to look back on their mistakes and improve on them.
The Presentation ceremony...
Earlier in the game, Craig Ervine opted to field first and his decision was well repaid by the bowlers as Zimbabwe picked up three wickets inside the Powerplay. They also continued to get the breakthrough whenever a partnership was forming and every bowler bowled well. Ryan Burl though was the pick of the bowlers as he ended up with three wickets. Ireland's batting was well below par and thanks to a late cameo by Gareth Delany, they were able to reach 114 runs. Coming to the chase, Zimbabwe didn't have a good start but were to keep the scoreboard ticking and ended up winning the game pretty comfortably.
A spirited bowling performance from Ireland but they just didn't have enough runs on the board. Harry Tector was surprisingly tossed the new ball and he got a wicket in the first over before Mark Adair followed it up with a wicket of his own in the next one. They were able to keep the scoring rate in check but the opposition batters were able to pick up boundaries at crucial times. Tector and Adair were the pick of the bowlers with two wickets each but weren't able to garner much support from the others.
A relatively easy victory in the end for Zimbabwe and the hosts have taken the early lead in the three-game series. Needing just 115 runs for the win, Zimbabwe lost both their openers in the first couple of overs. It was then a stand of 35 runs between Gary Ballance and Wesley Madhevere that brought them back into the contest. The latter though never really looked in control and got out. Ballance too got to 30 and got out but the experienced head of Sean Williams held everything together and he received ample support from the keeper Clive Madande that ensured that they got over the line with balls to spare.
In over# 18
4
0
4
1
4
1
Gareth Delany 34/0(4)
17.6
4
FOUR! That's it, Zimbabwe have won and Clive Madande has finished things off in style. Fuller and on off, Clive Madande hangs back and heaves it over mid-wicket for a boundary and seems all pumped up. Zimbabwe beat Ireland by 5 wickets!
17.5
.
This one lands on middle, Clive Madande defends it to mid on.
17.4
4
FOUR! Scores level now! A full toss and on off, Clive Madande slaps it through covers for a boundary.
17.3
1
Flatter and on off, Sean Williams forces it wide of mid off for one.
17.2
4
FOUR! Zimbabwe are almost there now. Fuller and on off, Sean Williams moves forward and lofts it over mid off for a boundary. 6 runs are needed now!
17.1
1
A low full toss, on off, Clive Madande looks to drive it but gets an inside edge as the ball rolls towards short fine leg. They collect one.
Gareth Delany (3-0-20-0) comes back in to finish his spell.
In over# 17
1
0
4
3
1
1
George Dockrell 17/0(2)
16.6
1
Bowls it on off, Clive Madande sweeps it towards backward square leg for one. Zimbabwe now needs 11 runs in 18 balls.
16.5
.
Fuller and on middle, Clive Madande pushes it to the man at mid off.