49.0 -
Murtagh to Panyangara, FOUR. Phew! What a game this has been. I sometimes wonder who writes the script for these games, especially the ones betweeen Zimbabwe and Ireland, they always tend to take it till the last overs and in the process offer us a lot of excitement. This has been yet another typical Zimbabwe-Ireland finish. Both teams managed a tie in 2007 and who can forget that nerve-racking game in the 2015 World Cup. Coming to the finish, length delivery on the stumps, Panyangara comes down the track and bludgeons it straight down the ground. It's a four and Zimbabwe start the series with a thrilling win against their name.
45.3 -
J Mooney to S Raza, FOUR, there comes the much needed boundary for the hosts. Mooney, at this stage of the game, bowls a juicy full toss which Raza smacks it over the umpire's head with a shimmy down the track
40.3 -
Murtagh to S Raza, FOUR, Raza is pulling out all his stocks. Short ball on the body, he has pulled it well in front of square, no chance for the man in the depep
35.5 -
Andy McBrine to S Raza, FOUR, a welcome boundary for the hosts. This was well tossed up outside off, Raza's eyes lit up and he twinkled down the track, met the pitch and bombarded it inside out over extra cover
32.0 -
K O'Brien to C Ervine, FOUR, now he decides to take his chance. And it comes off. Fuller length delivery on the stumps, Ervine moves off-side to get inside the line and then laps it fine
31.1 -
K O'Brien to S Raza, FOUR, no slip in place which means an error by the batsman goes unpunished. It's like not doing your homework only to find the teacher is absent. Fuller length delivery outside off, Raza throws his bat looking to drive, the ball finds the outside edge but to no avail
26.0 -
Andy McBrine to C Ervine, FOUR, speared into the pads, Ervine gets inside the line and tickles the ball fine
24.1 -
Dockrell to Chigumbura, FOUR, it was a genuine edge but no one stationed at slip to catch that one. This was the quicker delivery around off, Chigumbura went through with the forward push with his feet stuck in concrete, ball kisses the outside edge and goes past the keeper and into the fence
15.2 -
Stirling to Sean Williams, FOUR, and now to make matters worse Williams sends in a smack wide of long-on. Advances and gets to to pitch of this flighted delivery, places it well wide of the fielder in the deep
10.2 -
Andy McBrine to Sean Williams, FOUR, that was good awareness from the umpire Russell Tiffin, he ducked under just at the right time. This was flighted delivery around off, Williams goes for the big slog straight down the ground, he timed that so well and the umpire hardly had any time to react
9.4 -
Murtagh to C Ervine, FOUR, full and wide from Murtagh, Ervine leans into the cover drive and caresses it through extra cover, no need to run for those
9.1 -
Murtagh to C Ervine, FOUR, fuller length delivery and just outside off, Ervine leans forward and drills it handsomely past mid-off for a boundary
8.1 -
Andy McBrine to Chibhabha, FOUR, poor first ball from McBrine, short and well down the leg-side, Chibhabha looks to pull and gets a bottom edge, beats both the keeper and leg slip on its way to the fence
6.4 -
J Mooney to C Ervine, FOUR, too short from Mooney, Ervine stands tall and punches it square on the off-side, beats point and races away to the fence in a hurry
5.5 -
Murtagh to Chibhabha, FOUR, on a good length and just outside off, Chibhabha was looking to carve it through extra cover, ends up dragging it off the inner half of the bat, beats mid-on and races away to the fence
4.1 -
J Mooney to Mutumbami, FOUR, too short from J Mooney, easy pickings for Mutumbami as he swivels across and pulls it in front of square on the on-side, no need to run for those
3.0 -
J Mooney to Mutumbami, FOUR, fuller length delivery and well outside off, Mutumbami leans forward and cracks it square past cover, the timing is sweet and the ball races away to the fence in a hurry
1.2 -
Murtagh to Chibhabha, FOUR, nicely played by Chibhabha, too full and on Chibhabha's pads, whipped away uppishly and wide of mid-wicket, there's no one in the deep and it's Chibhabha's first boundary
46.3 -
Murtagh to S Raza, out W Masakadza Run Out!! 2 runs completed. Gosh! Hang on!! Zimbabwe are not home yet, looks like there is much more action packed in the last few deliveries. This was a good length delivery with a hint of width on offer, Raza makes room and goes for the loft, places it well wide of sweeper cover. There was never a third there, Raza called Masakadza through and the latter responded sans any hesitation. Ed Joyce, who has already effected a run-out, makes a good stop and hurls the ball to cover. Porterfield collects and immediately sends it to the keeper who does the rest. W Masakadza run out (Ed Joyce/Porterfield/Wilson) 10(18)
39.4 -
Andy McBrine to S Raza, out Luke Jongwe Run Out!! The last thing Zimbabwe needed was a run-out. Absolutely mindless cricket. The ball was tucked very close to square leg, but apparently he was transparent for Jongwe. He hurtles down the track looking for a single, Raza is unmoved and sends him back.. Too late though. He is well short of his crease. Luke Jongwe run out (Ed Joyce) 5(9)
37.0 -
Murtagh to M Waller, out Caught by S Thompson!! Okay, don't blame me now. He looked twitchy right from the start. Murtagh startles the batsman with a sharp lifter, Waller wasn't expecting that, tries to manufacture a rushed pull but was never in control. Might have got it high on the bat before it lobbed up towards deep mid-wicket. M Waller c S Thompson b Murtagh 1(12)
33.5 -
Andy McBrine to C Ervine, out Caught by Wilson!! The well set Ervine goes. Ireland have nipped him out of the equation. Still 68 to get and it's only 5 wickets in hand now. Nicely tossed up delivery around off, Ervine meekly looks to meet it with the push without getting anywhere close to the pitch. The ball grips slightly and there is a feather of an outside edge to the keeper. C Ervine c Wilson b Andy McBrine 60(78) [4s-5]
26.2 -
Dockrell to Chigumbura, out Caught by Wilson!! Ireland are chipping away at the wickets column! This time it's the skipper. A delivery which looked to be devoid of harm - short and flat outside off, Chigumbura cuts but only manages an outside edge. The deflection off the bat isn't very cruel for the keeper and he has his mitts in the right place to collect. Chigumbura c Wilson b Dockrell 16(22) [4s-1]
20.3 -
Dockrell to Sean Williams, out Stumped!! So, that's the end of a 54-run stand and it's a much-needed wicket for Ireland. This was a smart stumping from Wilson, flighted delivery well outside off, Williams looks to send a drive through cover off the front foot (lost his balance while doing so). The keeper, who is well aware of the situation whips the bails off in a flash. Sean Williams st Wilson b Dockrell 24(32) [4s-2]
9.0 -
Andy McBrine to Chibhabha, out Caught by Murtagh!! A poor ball eventually gets McBrine a wicket. This was another short delivery, Chibhabha could have put it away anywhere he wanted. Instead, he pulls it straight to Murtagh at short fine leg. A gift of a wicket for Ireland. Chibhabha c Murtagh b Andy McBrine 22(26) [4s-3]
4.2 -
J Mooney to Mutumbami, out Caught by Andy McBrine!! Mutumbami's luck finally runs out. This was full and on the stumps, Mutumbami was looking to work it towards the on-side, closed the face of the bat a tad too early, the leading edge is found and it's a simple catch McBrine at mid-on. Mutumbami c Andy McBrine b J Mooney 9(14) [4s-2]