141/7 (19.2)
CR : 7.29
137/8 (20.0)
CR : 6.85
Zimbabwe won by 3 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Tony Munyonga
43(30)
THERE IT IS!!! TONY MUNYONGA FINISHES THINGS OFF IN STYLE AND ZIMBABWE TAKE THE LEAD IN THE T20I SERIES. THE CHEVRONS WIN BY 3 WICKETS WITH 4 BALLS REMAINING!
Over 20
Zimbabwe 141/7
Tony Munyonga43(30)
Richard Ngarava12(7)
Graham Hume0-26(3.2)
ZIM won by 3 wickets
8:45 PM IST and 5:15 PM Local Time- We've had an absolutely thrilling game of cricket here in Harare and Zimbabwe have romped home with three wickets in hand courtesy a special innings from Tony Munyonga and great resistance from the tail. Ireland fought hard and made a real match of it but they couldn't do the last bit and pick up wickets post the 15th over. Zimbabwe will be mighty pleased with this effort and they have gone up 1-0 in the series.
Craig Young got Ireland off to an incredible start as he ran through the top order of Zimbabwe. He did for Marumani with a short ball and got Madhevere to edge one to Stirling. Brian Bennett looked good for a while but he threw his wicket away playing a big stroke. Raza and Burl stitched up a partnership and got the hosts to 37/3 at the end of the powerplay.
Burl began to switch gears and started picking up the boundaries and twos to put pressure back on Ireland. The partnership was worth 48 runs when part time off spinner Harry Tector came in and dismissed Burl. Sikandar Raza followed soon afterwards to leave Zimbabwe reeling at 64/5. Ireland seemed favorites to win the game.
Zimbabwe began to make a mini recovery as the pair of Munyonga Musekiwa got through the middle overs and began to score the boundaries. Musekiwa smashed little for a couple of boundaries before Young came back and picked up his fourth wicket. It swung the game back in favor for Ireland. With five overs left, Zimbabwe needed 37 runs to win.
Munyonga combined first with Musekiwa and then with Ngarava to help Zimbabwe get home comfortably in the end. His innings of 43 from 30 balls turned out to be the biggest difference in the end. For Ireland, Craig Young was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets and trio of Tector, White and Little picked up a little each. It wasn't enough though as Zimbabwe cruised home.
Craig Young got Ireland off to an incredible start as he ran through the top order of Zimbabwe. He did for Marumani with a short ball and got Madhevere to edge one to Stirling. Brian Bennett looked good for a while but he threw his wicket away playing a big stroke. Raza and Burl stitched up a partnership and got the hosts to 37/3 at the end of the powerplay.
Burl began to switch gears and started picking up the boundaries and twos to put pressure back on Ireland. The partnership was worth 48 runs when part time off spinner Harry Tector came in and dismissed Burl. Sikandar Raza followed soon afterwards to leave Zimbabwe reeling at 64/5. Ireland seemed favorites to win the game.
Zimbabwe began to make a mini recovery as the pair of Munyonga Musekiwa got through the middle overs and began to score the boundaries. Musekiwa smashed little for a couple of boundaries before Young came back and picked up his fourth wicket. It swung the game back in favor for Ireland. With five overs left, Zimbabwe needed 37 runs to win.
Munyonga combined first with Musekiwa and then with Ngarava to help Zimbabwe get home comfortably in the end. His innings of 43 from 30 balls turned out to be the biggest difference in the end. For Ireland, Craig Young was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets and trio of Tector, White and Little picked up a little each. It wasn't enough though as Zimbabwe cruised home.
We are back for the post game presentation!
Player of the Match: Tony Munyonga
Tony Munyonga (Zimbabwe, Player of the Match) -" We put ourselves in a position where we needed to take it deep. I was enjoying the chance and the moment. I've been scoring runs in the domestic league and got the confidence back. Coming out and scoring runs gives you a lot of confidence.
I've played about 8 years of First Class Cricket and I've seen a lot of such situations. I kept my head down and dug deep to take the game down to the wire. "
I've played about 8 years of First Class Cricket and I've seen a lot of such situations. I kept my head down and dug deep to take the game down to the wire. "
Paul Stirling (Ireland Captain): "Yeah, probably either of the innings (went against us). We were in the game for the first half of both innings. There was some spin on offer. But it was another cracker of a game in this series.
He (Harry Tector) is a huge player for us and he has been in good nick with the bat as well. Craig (Young) has been a stalwart for us. He had a niggle during the ODI, thus he had to sit out."
He (Harry Tector) is a huge player for us and he has been in good nick with the bat as well. Craig (Young) has been a stalwart for us. He had a niggle during the ODI, thus he had to sit out."
Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe Captain)- "We did really well in the middle overs to strangle them. We finished off well at the back end. I'm proud of the way we pulled things back there. I thought it was a 150 wicket and we adjusted to the situation accordingly.
I'm happy for Tony. He went back to domestic cricket and this is the start of many more awards for him. He kept his calm, hit the deeper pockets in the ground and rotated the strike well to take us over the line. "
I'm happy for Tony. He went back to domestic cricket and this is the start of many more awards for him. He kept his calm, hit the deeper pockets in the ground and rotated the strike well to take us over the line. "
That's it from our end from the 2nd T20I between Zimbabwe and Ireland. The Chevrons have made sure that they don't lose this series. Can the Irish make a comeback in the final game of the tour on Tuesday? Do join us to find out...
For now, this is Arjun Bhalla taking your leave on behalf of my co-colleagues - Paras Yadav, Zeeshan Naiyar and Soumarya Dutta!
For now, this is Arjun Bhalla taking your leave on behalf of my co-colleagues - Paras Yadav, Zeeshan Naiyar and Soumarya Dutta!