250/10 (46.0)
CR : 5.43
299/5 (50.0)
CR : 5.98
Zimbabwe won by 49 runs π
Player of the Match
Brian Bennett
169(163)
ZIM won by 49 runs
8:42 PM IST, 5:12 PM Local Time | Zimbabwe bowlers have been able to defend the score of 299 runs to win the first ODI against Ireland by 49 runs at Harare. The Craig Ervine-led unit take a 1-nil lead in the ODIs after losing the one-off Test match to Irish!
Zimbabwe have broken their four-game losing streak by beating Ireland fair and square in the 1st ODI at Harare. If Brian Bennett had his say in the first innings, then Blessing Muzarabani raised his hand in the chase by taking four wickets.
Richard Ngarava gave Zimbabwe a perfect start by snapping Andrew Balbarnieβs wicket on the last ball of the chase. Paul Stirling and Curtis Campher tried to counter-attack the Chevrons with a streak of boundaries, but Muzarabani had other plans. He removed the Irish skipper on 32 to break their momentum and a 55-run stand.
Campher then joined hands with Harry Tector for the third wicket stand. The duo added 54 runs between them, but the run flow was comprised during their time together in the middle. Sikandar Raza and Tadiwanashe Marumani paired up to send Campher packing after a 57-ball 44.
Tector and Lorcan Tucker then tried their hand at the chase, but the former never found his groove. Skipper Ervine threw bait to the Irish by bringing in Wessly Madhevere, and it worked as a charm. Tector scored his first boundary of the innings on his 77th ball and he lost his calm on the very next delivery. Madhevere then got rid of Mark Adair in his following over.
Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava then cleaned up the lower middle order and tail despite a brief resistance from Andy McBrine and George Dockrell. They added 73 runs for the seventh wicket (off 56 balls) but the required run rate got better of them. In the end, Zimbabwe cleaned up Ireland in 46 overs to win the game by 49 runs.
Zimbabwe have broken their four-game losing streak by beating Ireland fair and square in the 1st ODI at Harare. If Brian Bennett had his say in the first innings, then Blessing Muzarabani raised his hand in the chase by taking four wickets.
Richard Ngarava gave Zimbabwe a perfect start by snapping Andrew Balbarnieβs wicket on the last ball of the chase. Paul Stirling and Curtis Campher tried to counter-attack the Chevrons with a streak of boundaries, but Muzarabani had other plans. He removed the Irish skipper on 32 to break their momentum and a 55-run stand.
Campher then joined hands with Harry Tector for the third wicket stand. The duo added 54 runs between them, but the run flow was comprised during their time together in the middle. Sikandar Raza and Tadiwanashe Marumani paired up to send Campher packing after a 57-ball 44.
Tector and Lorcan Tucker then tried their hand at the chase, but the former never found his groove. Skipper Ervine threw bait to the Irish by bringing in Wessly Madhevere, and it worked as a charm. Tector scored his first boundary of the innings on his 77th ball and he lost his calm on the very next delivery. Madhevere then got rid of Mark Adair in his following over.
Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava then cleaned up the lower middle order and tail despite a brief resistance from Andy McBrine and George Dockrell. They added 73 runs for the seventh wicket (off 56 balls) but the required run rate got better of them. In the end, Zimbabwe cleaned up Ireland in 46 overs to win the game by 49 runs.
Longest ODI Career in Terms of Innings Batted Without a Duck:
1) 105- Kepler Wessels (Australia/South Africa)
2) 40- Yashpal Sharma (India)
3) 40- Peter Kirsten (South Africa)
4) 39- Jacques Rudolph (South Africa/Africa XI)
5) 39- Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand)
6) 33*- Curtis Campher (Ireland)
1) 105- Kepler Wessels (Australia/South Africa)
2) 40- Yashpal Sharma (India)
3) 40- Peter Kirsten (South Africa)
4) 39- Jacques Rudolph (South Africa/Africa XI)
5) 39- Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand)
6) 33*- Curtis Campher (Ireland)
Time for the post-match presentations.
Player of the Match: Brian Bennett
Brian Bennett (Player of the Match): "I was preparing for T20Is so I decided to push myself up. In the powerplay, two fielders are out and the ball was coming nicely. That helped me.
Obviously to start the series like this is a good sign. I just tried to take the game deep. Our strength is in the top four batters and so we tried to bat cautiously. It was nice to bat with Craig Ervine. He guided me and made the things easier."
Obviously to start the series like this is a good sign. I just tried to take the game deep. Our strength is in the top four batters and so we tried to bat cautiously. It was nice to bat with Craig Ervine. He guided me and made the things easier."
Paul Stirling (Ireland Captain): "Firstly, I would like to congratulate Brian (Bennett). We gave him a couple of chances, and he made us pay for it. That's what good teams do, that's what great players do. It's international cricket for a reason. We were found rusty, which should have been.
We gave them 30-40 extra runs. (but) 300 runs were chaseable with the ball getting harder after 20 overs. We were surely in the game. We bat deep and you want to give yourselves a chance. We gave us a couple. Hopefully, next time we come through."
We gave them 30-40 extra runs. (but) 300 runs were chaseable with the ball getting harder after 20 overs. We were surely in the game. We bat deep and you want to give yourselves a chance. We gave us a couple. Hopefully, next time we come through."
Craig Ervine (Zimbabwe Captain): "That would've been a good luck for me to get the hundred. It was a nice showdown from Brian (Bennett). It's crucial for the top order to bat deep because it gives the cushion to the lower order. If you concede wickets early it will create a lot of pressure.
We always had the eye to post over 300 and got close to that. I think our bowling was good. We have been looking to do a few things correct and it went right today. Hopefully we will continue the momentum in the next match.
Sikandar Raza has done a lot of good job for us with both bat and ball. I think we were a bit sloppy in the field and before the next match, we definitely have something to work on."
We always had the eye to post over 300 and got close to that. I think our bowling was good. We have been looking to do a few things correct and it went right today. Hopefully we will continue the momentum in the next match.
Sikandar Raza has done a lot of good job for us with both bat and ball. I think we were a bit sloppy in the field and before the next match, we definitely have something to work on."
That's it from our coverage of the 1st ODI match series between Zimbabwe and Ireland from Ireland. The Chevrons may have taken a 1-0 lead but these two sides will go again on Sunday. Till then, stay tuned with us!
Arjun Bhalla is signing off on behalf of my co-commentator, Saptak Sanyal, and scorer/analyst, Manish Bishnoi. Stay tuned for more action from around the world.
Arjun Bhalla is signing off on behalf of my co-commentator, Saptak Sanyal, and scorer/analyst, Manish Bishnoi. Stay tuned for more action from around the world.