Zimbabwe vs Ireland Match Highlights & Results

Right then, that is it from this game and Ireland have taken an unassailable 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. The next and final match of the series will be played on Sunday, the 17th of December at the very same venue. That game will begin at 12.45 pm IST (7.15 am GMT) but our build-up, as usual, will begin much sooner. Do join us then. Till then, take care and goodbye!

Joshua Little is the Player of the Match for his sensational six-wicket haul. Little expresses that It's nice to contribute to the team and secure a win, and today was a special day for him. He further adds that against right-handers, he considers it a good option to come from around the wicket, given the observed up-and-down nature of the surface's bounce. He mentions feeling pretty sore and needing an ice bath. Despite this, he says that he's determined to come back on Sunday and aims to secure a victory to win the series and concludes.

The captain of Ireland, Paul Stirling says they are getting better as a team in every game they are playing and were slightly disappointed about the previous washed-out game because they were in a similar situation. Adds that Joshua Little was exceptional and the other bowlers around him did great to keep down the scoring rate which helped Josh get those crucial wickets at the top of the order. He concludes that this surface was a 200-run wicket and Josh's spell was the difference between both the teams and that he looks forward to winning the series from here.

Sikandar Raza, the Zimbabwean skipper says that it didn't quite go well for them today. He mentions that when you lose half of your side inside 100 runs, it feels like a rescue operation. He then credits Wellington Masakadza and Ryan Burl for a resilient partnership that helped them to reach 166 runs. He goes on to appreciate Joshua Little for his brilliant spell in bowling. He further updates Ryan Burl's injury and says that the doctors will look at him, but there's a 50-50 chance of him playing the next game as he is in a pretty average state.

The Presentation ceremony...

Zimbabwe's batting performance was not as impressive, as they posted a total of 166 runs before being bowled out by the Irish team. However, their bowlers showcased exceptional skill, causing consistent trouble for the Irish batters. The fast bowlers, particularly Blessing Muzarabani, and the spinners, notably Brandon Mavuta, were instrumental in keeping Zimbabwe in the game. Both Muzarabani and Mavuta claimed two wickets each, applying pressure throughout the innings. With just an additional 50 runs on the board, the match outcome could have taken a different turn. Despite the early setback, Ireland's victory in the second ODI gives them a 1-0 lead in the series, bringing confidence and momentum as they head into the third ODI.

Ireland faced an early setback, losing a wicket on the very first ball of their innings. The captain, Paul Stirling, and Curtis Campher steadied the ship, but Stirling's departure after scoring just 14 runs added pressure. A crucial partnership of 52 runs between Campher and Harry Tector provided Ireland with a much-needed breather. Although Tector and Lorcan Tucker fell after scoring in their 20s, Campher played a pivotal role, crafting a brilliant innings of 66 runs off 71 balls, adorned with 10 boundaries. His resilience and determination laid the foundation for Ireland's successful chase, ensuring a slow but comfortable progression towards the target. Despite the pressure of wickets falling, Mark Adair managed to keep his cool and played a lovely cameo, securing the win, while Zimbabwe's bowlers kept the contest tense till the end.

In a comfortable finish to the second ODI between Zimbabwe and Ireland, it was the Irish team that emerged victorious, successfully chasing down the target of 167 with four wickets in hand and just over 40 overs played. The game was nothing short of a roller coaster ride, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats until the final run was scored but Ireland always seemed to have their noses in front. Despite the relatively modest target in comparison to other ODIs, Zimbabwe's bowlers displayed exceptional skill, making every run hard-earned for the Irish batters.

Richard Ngarava to Mark Adair, Four!FOUR! There it is, the winning runs and it is Mark Adair who finishes the proceedings here. This is a short ball banged in around off, Adair bends his back, lets the ball come on and ramps it down to third man for a boundary. Ireland win by four wickets!

Tanaka Chivanga to Andy McBrine, No run.Full and outside off, there to be driven but Andy McBrine opts to leave it alone and we will go beyond the 40-over mark.

Tanaka Chivanga to Andy McBrine, No run.Back of a length and over middle, Andy McBrine gets right behind the line and blocks it out.

Tanaka Chivanga to George Dockrell, OUT! c Sikandar Raza b Tanaka Chivanga.OUT! CAUGHT! Would you believe it? With just one needed to win, George Dockrell has held out here and Tanaka Chivanga picks up a wicket. Banged in short over middle, this one climbs on the batter. Dockrell looks to pull it over mid-wicket into the vacant region but ends up getting a top edge. The ball goes really high but Sikandar Raza settles under it well and takes the catch. Also, Andy McBrine is the new man in.

Tanaka Chivanga to George Dockrell, Wide!WIDE! Misses the yorker and serves a full toss down the leg side. Scores are now level.

Tanaka Chivanga to Mark Adair, 1 run.Another short ball, this time Mark Adair pulls it away over backward square leg without much timing and picks up another single.

Tanaka Chivanga to Mark Adair, 2 runs.Short again, this time the pull shot is forced away between mid-wicket and mid on and Mark Adair picks up a couple of runs.

Tanaka Chivanga to Mark Adair, No run.Completely misjudged by Blessing Muzarabani and Mark Adair lets out a cheeky smile. Banged in short around off, Adair mistimes the pull badly in front of mid on and Muzarabani goes back at first before coming forward and then just stops, allowing the ball to pitch in front of him.

Richard Ngarava to Mark Adair, 1 run.A low full toss around off, Mark Adair goes after it but only manages to get it toward extra cover for a single.

Richard Ngarava to Mark Adair, Wide!WIDE! Goes for another bumper but gets it all wrong as this one flies over the head of Mark Adair. Ireland just one hit away now from victory.

Richard Ngarava to Mark Adair, No run.A quick bumper now over the stumps, Mark Adair ducks under it well.

Richard Ngarava to Mark Adair, Four!FOUR! Ireland inching closer to the win now! Richard Ngarava continues to bowl it short and attack the body but this time Mark Adair is waiting for it and he pulls it well behind square leg for a boundary.

Richard Ngarava to George Dockrell, 1 run.Short again, angling down leg a bit, George Dockrell glances it off the hips down to fine leg and picks up another run.

Richard Ngarava to Mark Adair, 1 run.Good length on the pads, flicked away behind square leg for a single.

Richard Ngarava to Mark Adair, No run.Short of a length from around the stumps, rising up on the batter, Mark Adair does well to get behind the line and keeps it down on the off side.

Tanaka Chivanga to George Dockrell, 2 runs.Short again, this time at the body, George Dockrell lifts his front leg up and short-arm jabs it in front of deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Tanaka Chivanga to George Dockrell, No run.A spicy bumper this, around off and moving away, George Dockrell sways out of the way and leaves it alone for the keeper to collect.

Tanaka Chivanga to Mark Adair, 1 run.A direct hit and Mark Adair was gone for all money! Back of a length over the stumps, Adair nudges it toward mid-wicket and sets off for the single. Sikandar Raza picks up the ball and has a shy at the bowler's end but fails to hit the stumps.

Tanaka Chivanga to Mark Adair, No run.Full and outside off, shaping away a touch, Mark Adair drives it straight toward cover.

Tanaka Chivanga to Mark Adair, Wide!WIDE! Good length angling down leg, wide called.

Tanaka Chivanga to Mark Adair, Four!EDGED AND FOUR! Tanaka Chivanga pitches it up a bit around off and gets some movement away from the batter. Mark Adair goes hard at it and gets a thick outside edge through the vacant first slip region and into the third man fence.

Tanaka Chivanga to Mark Adair, No run.Starts off with a fuller delivery, on middle and angled in, Mark Adair digs it out toward mid off.

Richard Ngarava to Mark Adair, 1 run.Hard length around off, angling back in, Mark Adair has to play at it and gets a big inside edge past the stumps for a single.

Richard Ngarava to Mark Adair, No run.On a good length and angled in, this one hits a crack and comes in sharply, Mark Adair gets squared up and gets a leading edge onto the off side.

Richard Ngarava to Mark Adair, No run.Shortish length angling down leg, Mark Adair fails to get it away and the ball just flicks the thigh pad on its way down to the keeper.

Richard Ngarava to Mark Adair, No run.Good length right around the top of off, angling in, Mark Adair defends it out.

Richard Ngarava to George Dockrell, 2 Wides!TWO WIDES! Attempted slower one, looking to go full and attack the pads but it is spilled well down leg. The keeper fumbles as well and they get across for one.

Richard Ngarava to George Dockrell, No run.Keeps it nice and full again around off, George Dockrell defends it toward cover-point.

Richard Ngarava to George Dockrell, No run.Comes from around the wicket and angles it in on a good length from around off. George Dockrell stays back and bunts it out on the off side.

Sikandar Raza to Mark Adair, No run.Flighted delivery on off and middle, Mark Adair leans forward to make yet another block.

Sikandar Raza to Mark Adair, No run.Nicely drifted into middle and leg, Mark Adair flicks it onto the on side.

Sikandar Raza to Mark Adair, No run.Flatter this time around off, nudged away in front of point and Mark Adair wants the single but again George Dockrell sends him back, rightly so too.

Sikandar Raza to Mark Adair, No run.Quicker one, fired in on middle, Mark Adair defends it out again.

Sikandar Raza to Mark Adair, No run.Floated up on middle and leg, Mark Adair works it away toward mid-wicket.

Sikandar Raza to Mark Adair, Four!FOUR! There's the boundary Ireland needed to release all the pressure. This is short and wide outside off, Mark Adair cuts it to the left of the diving man at point and picks up a handy boundary.

Blessing Muzarabani to Mark Adair, 1 run.Bowled back of a length and around off, Mark Adair plays it down with soft hands toward third man and picks up a single.

Blessing Muzarabani to Mark Adair, No run.Beauty! Lovely line and length, just a touch fuller and in the channel, seaming away off the deck. Mark Adair looks to play at it but is well beaten.

Blessing Muzarabani to George Dockrell, 1 run.Short ball at the hips, tucked away behind square leg for an easy single.

Blessing Muzarabani to George Dockrell, No run.On a hard length and around off, George Dockrell gets on the back foot once again and defends it on the off side.

Blessing Muzarabani to George Dockrell, No run.A bumper now, this one flies over the stumps as George Dockrell ducks under it with ease.

Blessing Muzarabani to George Dockrell, No run.Fractionally short and around off, George Dockrell blocks it off the back foot.

Sikandar Raza to George Dockrell, 1 run.Full and straight this time from Raza, George Dockrell eases it down to long on for one more.

Sikandar Raza to George Dockrell, No run.Flatter again and on the stumps, this is nudged away to mid-wicket.

Sikandar Raza to Mark Adair, 1 run.Floated on the pads, worked away towards square leg for a single.

Sikandar Raza to Mark Adair, No run.Flatter this time on off, Mark Adair nudges it out on the off side and looks for a quick run but is sent back by his partner.

Sikandar Raza to Mark Adair, No run.Quick and short outside off, hit away firmly but straight to covers.

Sikandar Raza to George Dockrell, 1 run.Slightly shorter, drifting in from around off, George Dockrell chops it off the back foot onto the off side and picks up a single.

Blessing Muzarabani to George Dockrell, 1 run.Shorter one on the body, George Dockrell hops and nudges it away just behind square leg for a single.

Blessing Muzarabani to George Dockrell, No run.A fraction fuller on the stumps and angling back in, George Dockrell stays back and tentatively keeps it out.

Blessing Muzarabani to George Dockrell, No run.Back of a length around off, angling in, George Dockrell looks to play it off the back foot but gets it nowhere.

Blessing Muzarabani to George Dockrell, No run.Top delivery! A quick bumper around off and angled in, George Dockrell is taken by surprise but manages to just about duck under it in time.

Blessing Muzarabani to Mark Adair, Leg bye.Leg bye! Shortish length on the pads, Mark Adair fails to get a bat on it and the ball goes off the pads toward short fine leg. They pick up a leg bye.

Mark Adair is the new batter in for Ireland.

Blessing Muzarabani to Lorcan Tucker, OUT! b Blessing Muzarabani.OUT! CHOPPED ON! Another twist in the tale? Sikandar Raza keeps Blessing Muzarabani for an extra over and the tall pacer has repaid the faith shown in him. This is bowled back of a length and close to the off stump, Lorcan Tucker looks to punch it away off the back foot but the extra bounce means the ball takes the shoulder of the bat, on the inside edge and goes back onto the stumps. Ireland lose their fifth and they still need 35 runs to win.

Brandon Mavuta to Lorcan Tucker, 1 run.Slightly shorter on the pads, worked away 'round the corner for a single.

Brandon Mavuta to Lorcan Tucker, No run.Pulls the length back a bit and drifts it onto the pads, Lorcan Tucker dabs it out onto the leg side.

Brandon Mavuta to Lorcan Tucker, Four!FOUR! Drifted full and on the leg stump, Lorcan Tucker gets his hands out in front and sweeps it well past backward square leg for a boundary.

Brandon Mavuta to George Dockrell, 1 run.The top-spinner now, short again around off, George Dockrell waits on the back foot and punches it away toward deep cover for a run.

Brandon Mavuta to Lorcan Tucker, 1 run.Bowled from the front of the hand, short and outside off, cut away hard toward deep point for just a single.

Brandon Mavuta to Lorcan Tucker, No run.Pushed through quicker and on a nagging length onto middle, Lorcan Tucker defends it out.

Blessing Muzarabani to George Dockrell, No run.Changes the angle now by coming from around the stumps, bowls it on a hard length and pushes it across the right-hander. George Dockrell plays inside the line and just a single off that over.

Blessing Muzarabani to George Dockrell, No run.Very well played by George Dockrell! A nasty short ball over off, rising up high at the helmet but Dockrell hops in the air and does well to keep it down on the off side.

Blessing Muzarabani to George Dockrell, No run.Nicely bowled! Banged in short and outside off, taking off after hitting the deck and George Dockrell has to hop and sway away from the line of the ball.

Blessing Muzarabani to Lorcan Tucker, 1 run.Drops it short now over middle, Lorcan Tucker swivels and pulls it to deep backward square leg for a run.

Blessing Muzarabani to Lorcan Tucker, No run.Pitched up on the off stump, Lorcan Tucker drives it nicely on the up but finds the man at mid off.

Blessing Muzarabani to Lorcan Tucker, No run.Bowled back of a length and around off, Lorcan Tucker plays it off the back foot toward cover.

Brandon Mavuta to George Dockrell, No run.Drifts down the leg on a fuller length, George Dockrell misses the flick and the ball thuds the outer pad.

Brandon Mavuta to George Dockrell, No run.Fuller on the stumps, George Dockrell tucks it back to Brandon Mavuta.

George Dockrell is the new batter in for Ireland.

Brandon Mavuta to Curtis Campher, OUT! b Brandon Mavuta.OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! Brandon Mavuta shows great heart to go full again and this time he gets the better of Curtis Campher. Tosses this one up nicely, full and on middle, gets it full enough and to dip as well. Curtis Campher tries to repeat the slog-sweep but is beaten on the flight and the ball sneaks under the willow to castle into the stumps. Campher departs after a well-made 66 and Zimbabwe have a narrow opening here.

Brandon Mavuta to Curtis Campher, Four!FOUR! That's a shot of authority. Brandon Mavuta pitched it up fuller on the line of off stump, Curtis Campher gets below the line of the ball and lofts one along the ground to the deep mid-wicket fence for a boundary.

Brandon Mavuta to Lorcan Tucker, 1 run.Oh that was in the air for quite some time! Brandon Mavuta drops it on a shorter length around off, Lorcan Tucker gets the leading edge of the willow on the back foot, and the ball pops right over the bowler's head. They quickly snatch a single towards the right of the mid off region.

Brandon Mavuta to Lorcan Tucker, No run.Half hearted appeal! Fuller one angling in to Lorcan Tucker who misses to connect the ball on the front foot. The ball hits him on the pads.

Blessing Muzarabani to Lorcan Tucker, 1 run.Fortuitous for Lorcan Tucker there. Blessing Muzarabani bangs it on the surface, slightly outside off and nips into the batter, Lorcan Tucker attempts to defend off the back foot and gets an inside edge of the blade. The ball trickles down towards deep fine leg. The batters cross for a single.

Blessing Muzarabani to Lorcan Tucker, No run.Peach of a delivery! Banged into the pitch outside off, Lorcan Tucker lets it go through to the keeper.

Blessing Muzarabani to Curtis Campher, 1 run.Width on offer again by Blessing Muzarabani, outside off and back of a length, Curtis Campher cuts it square to deep third man for a single.

Blessing Muzarabani to Curtis Campher, Four!FOUR! Dropped it shorter and outside off, Curtis Campher gets on the backfoot and tries to cut it square but gets the toe end of the bat to send the ball fine at third man region for four runs.

Blessing Muzarabani to Curtis Campher, No run.Bowls on hard length, tad short and angling into the batter, Curtis Campher hops on the back foot and presses the ball underneath the bat.

Blessing Muzarabani to Curtis Campher, No run.On the good length, outside off stump, Curtis Campher blocks it to point for no runs.

Brandon Mavuta to Curtis Campher, 1 run.Pitches on a dragged length this time, outside off, Curtis Campher cuts off from the back foot it to covers for a single.

Brandon Mavuta to Lorcan Tucker, 1 run.Tossed up on the off, Lorcan Tucker drives it to long off for one.

Brandon Mavuta to Lorcan Tucker, No run.Tosses it up well on the stump line, Lorcan Tucker pushes it back to the bowler off the front foot.

Brandon Mavuta to Curtis Campher, 1 run.Tossed fuller outside off, Curtis Campher cuts it to deep point region for one.

Brandon Mavuta to Lorcan Tucker, 1 run.Flights it around off and full, Lorcan Tucker works it on the front foot to cover point for a single.

Brandon Mavuta to Lorcan Tucker, No run.Shorter on the stumps, Lorcan Tucker punches it to the mid-wicket region for no run.

Sikandar Raza to Curtis Campher, No run.Short and outside off, Curtis Campher cuts it on the back foot to backward point.

Sikandar Raza to Curtis Campher, Four!FOUR! Dragdown and Punished! Sikandar Raza drops the ball short spinning away outside leg, Curtis Campher gets on the backfoot and bangs it to the deep backward square leg fence for a boundary.

Sikandar Raza to Curtis Campher, No run.Drops it full and on the stump line, Curtis Campher stays in the crease and works it to mid-wicket.

Sikandar Raza to Curtis Campher, No run.Banged shorter outsdie off, Curtis Campher tries to cut it but doesn't connect.

Sikandar Raza to Lorcan Tucker, 1 run.Fractionally fuller, just around off stump line, angles into the stumps, Lorcan Tucker punches it to left of mid on for a single.

Sikandar Raza to Curtis Campher, 1 run.Tossed up fuller on the off stump line, Curtis Campher wrists it to long on for one.

Brandon Mavuta to Lorcan Tucker, No run.Tosses up on the stump line and full, Lorcan Tucker leans ahead and drives back to the bowler.