Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
20 | 2 Runs 2 Wkts | IRE: 114/9 (4 runs required, RR: 5.70)

  • Simi Singh28 (22b)
  • Ben White0 (0b)
  • Richard Ngarava4-1-17-1
  • Luke Jongwe4-0-17-2

So that's all from us from T20I number one. The visitors take the lead, in a game that they should not have won after making just 117. But their bowlers did the job, sending Ireland down by three runs. We'll be back on Sunday for match number two. However, the cricket never stops on ESPNcricinfo: Test cricket between England and India over here and match number 3 from the CPL right here. Hop on over as I Sreshth Shah say goodbye on behalf of Deiva Muthu and Vairavan.

Presentation.

Regis Chakabva is the Player of the Match: "It was two-paced so it was all about taking it ball by ball. Some balls stayed low and skiddy. I just figured it's best to take it deep. Was fortunate to get a few boundaries. Credit to the bowlers. We thought we were 5-10 runs short, but the bowlers stuck to their guns.

Winning captain Ervine: "After the first half, only 117, and we knew we were under par. But the guys came out fired up, bowled well right from the start. The wicket was tricky. Stayed low, some. So difficult to find your timing. That was part of the reason why we felt we may have had the runs on the board. Chakabva held the innings well, a contribution like that got us across the line. We have a young bunch of guys and the energy comes with that. Guys did well with the gaps there to take the twos. The spinners all bowled well together. Helps having a legspinner, who can go for runs on another day but Ryan took three."

Losing captain Balbirnie: "very disappointed. Not good enough with the bat. But we back ourselves to chase a total like that down. If it wasn't for Simi, it could've been much worse. We have to reassess. Bowling and fielding good. Bowlers were economical, took wickets regularly. We were happy at the halfway stage and should be chasing down 118 whatever the surface. The pitch was skiddy, stayed low, we'll learn and it's a long series."

3.12pm What a low-scoring thriller! Ngarava concedes just two off the final over to defend five and give Zimbabwe a 1-0 lead in this five-game series. Ireland had the momentum at the break, but Zimbabwe did not let their shoulders droop in the second innings. Regular wickets, Burl's skills, and then Ngarava's excellent bowling takes them across. Ireland will be disappointed with some of their shot options that they took in the middle and lower order. At no time was the required run-rate exceedingly high and the hosts will be very disappointed how this game has turned out.

Shah Safeer: "Shame they're not in T20 World Cup! "

Musa: "Chevrons have done it, both gents and ladies! Ngarava you beauty! "

19.6
1
Ngarava to Simi Singh, 1 run, yorker length, ends up as a low full toss. Slices a flick to deep midwicket and Zimbabwe win by three runs!

Had Young completed the run, Ireland would've needed 4 to win. Now they need 5. Which means six gives them a win. Four is a Super Over.

19.5
W
Ngarava to Young, OUT, good length outside off stump, Misses the cut, and Singh is running across anyway to get strike for the last ball. Young, on the other hand, is slow to take off, and the throw from the keeper is good for Ngarava to take the bails off at his end. Young goes, that's a dot, and a wicket.

CA Young run out 0 (2m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Conceded just 1 in 4 balls. And Singh is at the non-striker's end.

19.4
W
Ngarava to McCarthy, OUT, bowled him! Full outside off. Walks across to ramp it over short fine leg. But ends up hitting the ball onto his stumps.

BJ McCarthy b Ngarava 4 (19m 11b 0x4 0x6) SR: 36.36

19.3
1
Ngarava to Simi Singh, 1 run, played behind square, and goes to the deep on the leg side
19.2
0
Ngarava to Simi Singh, no run, good length, quicker ball. Lands on off and angling away. Misses the cut. That's six off 4 now
19.1
0
Ngarava to Simi Singh, no run, full and wide, almost a yorker, and it's inside the tram lines! No wide, no run, perfect for Zimbabwe. Singh came down the ground but the ball kept going away from him

Simple equation. 6 off six. Ngarava with an economy of 5 will bowl. Another 5 and it's a super over.

Musa: "Lady chevrons pulled it off, can the boys do it?"

END OF OVER:
19 | 6 Runs | IRE: 112/7 (6 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 5.89, RRR: 6.00)

  • Simi Singh26 (18b)
  • Barry McCarthy4 (10b)
  • Luke Jongwe4-0-17-2
  • Richard Ngarava3-1-15-0

Shah Safeer: "Zimbabwe have been brilliant in defending totals for a few games now. They have defended 100 odd against Pakistan earlier, let's see if they do it here again! "

18.6
1
Jongwe to Simi Singh, 1 run, full just outside off and worked to deep midwicket, where the fielder runs in to keep it down to one.

The extra ball, for the wide earlier in the over. What does Singh do? Take the single to keep strike? Or go for the glory shot

18.5
1
Jongwe to McCarthy, 1 run, good length on off, and he swats an aggressive shot to deep midwicket

Back to run a ball.

18.4
0
Jongwe to McCarthy, no run, full on middle. Inside out drive, but to cover once again. This time no single too
18.3
1
Jongwe to Simi Singh, 1 run, full and wide. Walks across to the off side and the cover drive is stopped by Burl at cover

Saoirse: "Good man yourself Simi!"

18.2
0
Jongwe to Simi Singh, no run, full and wide, and the attempted drive is stopped by the bowler as he runs to his left and dives to stop the ball
18.2
1w
Jongwe to Simi Singh, 1 wide, full on middle and leg. But going down the leg side, and that is costly this stage of the innings.
18.1
2lb
Jongwe to Simi Singh, 2 leg byes, going all the way? Nope, two. Angling down leg but can't get bat on ball to flick it fine. Hits the pads and rolls away. Enough time for fine leg to get to it

END OF OVER:
18 | 6 Runs | IRE: 106/7 (12 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 5.88, RRR: 6.00)

  • Barry McCarthy3 (8b)
  • Simi Singh24 (14b)
  • Richard Ngarava3-1-15-0
  • Tendai Chatara3-0-25-0
17.6
0
Ngarava to McCarthy, no run, back of a length on off and angling further across. Left alone
17.5
1
Ngarava to Simi Singh, 1 run, full, in the slot, wide outside off. Caresses a drive to the fielder at deep extra cover for just one
17.4
0
Ngarava to Simi Singh, no run, fullish, outside off and angling across. Misses the shot attempted through the off side
17.3
4
Ngarava to Simi Singh, FOUR, full toss, wide outside off and cut to deep point but oh dear, he's overrun it in the deep! Looks comfortable to keep it down to one but Chatara overruns it, and it's gone through him for four. How crucial is that? But to be fair the delivery probably deserved four

Moiz: "Ireland have so much talented players such as H Tector, G Delany, J McCollum, etc. Just give them consistent chances and they will prove there worth in the team."

17.2
1
Ngarava to McCarthy, 1 run, full on leg stump, and tapped to midwicket for a quick run
17.1
0
Ngarava to McCarthy, no run, good length on off and the natural angle takes it across the batter. Misses the cut, through to Regis

Eighteen off 18. Singh/McCarthy now need to calculate how much should they leave for the final over. Here's the left-arm seamer

END OF OVER:
17 | 11 Runs | IRE: 100/7 (18 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 5.88, RRR: 6.00)

  • Simi Singh19 (11b)
  • Barry McCarthy2 (5b)
  • Tendai Chatara3-0-25-0
  • Luke Jongwe3-0-13-2
16.6
6
Chatara to Simi Singh, SIX, up and over! Good length on off, but he comes down the ground to convert it into a slot delivery. And then holds the pose as he smacks it for six into the sightscreen
16.5
4
Chatara to Simi Singh, FOUR, and there's the boundary as he dances down the ground before slapping a cut behind point. Width made by backing away, and third man can't get to it in time

Two balls for Singh to eke a boundary out

16.4
1
Chatara to McCarthy, 1 run, guided behind point off the back foot, but just one run

Azweer: "Simi Singh gives the feel of MS Dhoni. Until he is at the crease, the team can win even in the last over."

16.3
0
Chatara to McCarthy, no run, back of a length, outside off. Looks to cut, but ends up squirting a shot towards mid off
16.2
0
Chatara to McCarthy, no run, nearly a yorker on off stump. Dug away to cover

Ireland 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st27KJ O'BrienPR Stirling
2nd17KJ O'BrienA Balbirnie
3rd21KJ O'BrienGH Dockrell
4th0KJ O'BrienSC Getkate
5th5SC GetkateC Campher
6th6SC GetkateNA Rock
7th12Simi SinghNA Rock
8th25BJ McCarthySimi Singh
9th0CA YoungSimi Singh
10th1B WhiteSimi Singh