Zimbabwe Vs Ireland, 2nd T20I: Ireland Levelled the Series 1-1 With 6 Wickets Win Over Zimbabwe
In the Zim vs IRE 2nd T20I played at Harare Sports Club, Ireland won the toss and opted to bowl first. Zimbabwe started the series with a win in the previous match and Ireland was looking to level the score on slightly sluggish deck.
Zimbabwe’s Marumami and Kaia came to the crease to lead the batting unit while Tector opened the bowling attack. Marumani lost his wicket early in the first over to Tector scoring just 2 (5). Ervine and Kaia kept the momentum up for Zimbabwe and the duo put 45-1 in 5 overs. However, Kaia got run out and this hindered the run rate of the host. Soon Madhevere got caught and bowled by Delany at 1 (3) and things get even worse when Williams departed scoring 19 (15). Zimbabwe had been pushed aside and could only manage to put 144 on the scoreboard. They got going right away. But after losing their second wicket, Zimbabwe seemed to lose their bearings. They eventually lost their ability to accelerate and stammered their way to 144-10 in 20 overs. Ervine was acting as the anchor, but after he fell, things didn’t seem promising for them.
In the run chase, Balbirnie and Ross Adair came at the crease and Chatara led the bowling unit. Ireland didn’t lose any wicket in the powerplay, scoring 35-0 in 6 overs. In the 9th over, Burl was brought to attack and he gave the much-needed breakthrough to Zimbabwe as he removed Balbirnie 33 (31). Soon, Doheny was sent back to the pavilion at 2 (4) by Burl in the 11th over. Ireland was 76-2 in 12 overs. In the 16th over, Ross Adair was dismissed by Ngarava at 65 (47), giving a shock to Ireland. But the damage was already done. Ireland was 119-3 at the end of 16th over. Tector 26 (21) helped Ireland move closer to the target before he got caught by Burl on a fine delivery bowled by Chatara.
145 seems like a simple chase, but it didn’t. The surface was moderately sluggish, and the hosts had three strong spinners in their lineup that made Ireland to sweat to win the match by 6 wickets in 19.4 overs. Ireland put 150-4 on the scoreboard while chasing the target of 145. The series is now 1-1.
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