Zimbabwe vs Ireland ICC Men s T20 World Cup, Australia, 2022

Short ball on middle. Little looks to play to third man but misses. Zimbabwe win by 31 runs.

A slower bumper on middle. Little lets it go.

FOUR! A length ball, outside off. Little slaps it hard through covers for a boundary. These runs will make a difference eventually in the net run rate.

On a length and outside off. Little shuffles to paddle it but misses.

Short again. Little fails to connect his bat.

Short in length and on middle. Little looks to ramp it away but misses.

SIX! Ireland are not giving away still! Tad short and outside off. McCarthy pulls it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

On middle on a length. Little flicks it to deep mid-wicket for one.

Short of a length and outside off. McCarthy pulls it towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Slower ball again. McCarthy looks to heave but misses.

A slower full ball, outside off. McCarthy swings and misses.

FOUR LEG BYES! Zimbabwe are untidy at the backend! Short in length and on off. McCarthy looks to pull but misses. It goes off his body and past the diving keeper to third man.

The wait continues for Zimbabwe! Touch short and on middle. McCarthy again mistimes his pull. The ball goes to deep square leg where the fielder runs in but fails to judge the flight of the ball.

FOUR! This is full and on leg. McCarthy makes room and lofts it straight down for a boundary.

Short ball on middle. McCarthy looks to pull but misses.

Outside off, played to third man for a single.

Outside off. Little has a wild swing and misses.

Zimbabwe have to wait a bit more! Short and on middle. McCarthy looks to pull but gets a top edge. It goes high and to square leg. The keeper calls and dives but fails to pouch it cleanly. A single. Was just away from his reach.

A full toss on middle. McCarthy pulls it to deep mid-wicket who collects on a bounce. One more.

Outside off, punched to covers for one.

Length ball, outside off. McCarthy pulls it to deep square leg for one.

SIX! THAT IS CLEAN! Fuller ball, outside off, slower one. McCarthy slogs it high over mid-wicket for a biggie.

This is full and outside off, driven to mid off.

Short in length and around off. McCarthy comes down the track as he swings across but misses. It goes over the stumps.

On a length and on middle. Blocked out.

Josh Little walks out.

OUT! TAKEN! This is full and outside off. Mark Adair makes room and spoons it to backward point. Sikandar Raza dives forward and takes a low catch. A good slow ball from Blessing Muzarabani who gets his second wicket.

On a length and way outside off. Adair looks to drive but misses.

SIX! BIGGIE! Short and on off. Adair pulls it over mid-wicket for a biggie.

No ball! On middle. McCarthy flicks it to deep square leg. Blessing Muzarabani has overstepped and a free hit will follow.

Follows Adair on the leg side, this is hit to long on for a single.

Full ball, outside off. Adair looks to go inside-out but misses.

A length ball on middle. McCarthy blocks it out solidly.

Barry McCarthy is the new man in.

OUT! TIMBER! Tendai Chatara gets another one! This is full and just outside off. Singh looks to drive it away but gets an inside edge and it ricochets onto the off pole. What a performance this is from Zimbabwe. Tendai Chatara is on a Hat-trick.

OUT! TAKEN! Zimbabwe are edging closer! Tendai Chatara rolls his finger on this length ball. This is on off. Gareth Delany hits it high and to long on where Milton Shumba takes the skier. A poor shot and Delany has to go.

Full and on middle. Adair whips it behind square leg for one.

On middle, this is hit to deep mid-wicket for a single.

This is on a length and outside off, it lands and nips back in sharply. Gareth Delany looks to shack it but misses and gets hit on the pads. An appeal for LBW but nothing given. Zimbabwe take the review but the replay shows the ball goes past the wicket.

This is full and around leg. Adair makes room to drive but misses.

On middle, Gareth Delany flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single. 100 up!

Bye! This is outside off. Adair looks to drive but misses. The keeper fails to stop and it goes behind for a bye.

Flatter, slower and on middle. Adair pushes it back to Raza.

A single as this is hit to long on.

FOUR! Much needed! Tossed up, outside off. Gareth Delany lofts it over the bowler's head for four.

Tossed up on off. Gareth Delany smacks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

On middle, played back to the bowler.

Flatter and outside off. Adair slaps it to deep point for one.

OUT! TIMBER! Another partnership is broken! Zimbabwe back on top! This is very full and angling on middle. Campher goes way across the line to sweep and fails to connect the ball. The stumps are disturbed.

Short and outside off, Campher slaps it to sweeper cover for a brace.

Around off, pushed through covers for one.

Flat and on off, pulled to deep mid-wicket for a single.

On middle, kept out.

SIX! A welcome and a much needed boundary! Flighted full and on middle. Gareth Delany launches it over long on and clears the big fence.

Very full and on off, this is hit to long on for a single.

Wide! Way down the leg side. Campher misses his sweep.

Length ball, outside off. Gareth Delany slaps it to long off for a single.

THREE RUNS! Tossed up on off. Campher scoops it over short fine leg now.

On off, this is driven to the left of long off for a brace.

Tossed up, on off. Gareth Delany slog-sweeps it. The fielder makes an excellent stop as he flicks the ball away from the ropes for a couple.

Short and outside off, cut hard to deep cover for one.

Around off, pushed through covers for a single.

On middle. Campher reverse sweeps it to point. Only one.

Tossed up on middle. Gareth Delany drives it to long on for a single.

Two runs now as Campher hits this full ball to deep mid-wicket.

A single as this is hit to long on.

Outside off. Gareth Delany looks to drive but gets an inside edge onto the pads.

This is full and outside off. Gareth Delany looks to drive but misses.

OUT! TIMBER! Sikandar Raza with the ball now! What a day he is having. Surely, George Dockrell didn't see thins coming. A yorker from Raza, right at the base of middle. George Dockrell is late to get his bat down and it goes through and hits the stumps. Ireland now need 111 runs in 64 balls with 5 wickets in hand.

FLatter and outside off. Dockrell chops it on the off side.

Outside off, guided through point for a couple.

MISFIELD AND FOUR! A slower full ball, outside off. Curtis Campher steps across and paddles it to square leg. The fielder gets low and lets it through his hands for a boundary.

Full and on off, pushed to the right of extra cover. Good diving stop. A single.

Very full and on middle, flicked behind square on the leg side for one.

Full and outside off. It goes again off the outside edge, this time over point for a single.

FOUR! A slip could have helped Zimbabwe! Fuller ball on middle. Dockrell looks to heave but gets an outside edge and it flies to third man for four.

Tossed up, outside off. Curtis Campher sweeps it to deep square leg. Good fielding in the deep.

A single as this is hit to sweeper cover.

Outside off. Dockrell hits hard, it goes more off the upper half and over point for a couple.

Touch short, this is hit to point for a single.

Around off, pushed back to the bowler.

Flatter and targeting off. Dockrell slaps it to cover for one.

Around off, blocked out.

Short ball on middle. Dockrell pulls it wide of deep square leg. The fielder runs to his right and slides. Two runs.

On middle, nudged to mid-wicket for one.

Fuller ball, outside off, swinging away. Dockrell pushes it to cover for one.

FOUR! Two in a row! On the hips, it is clipped to deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

FOUR! Length ball, outside off. Dockrell looks to push but gets an outside edge past the keeper to third man for a boundary.

Length ball on middle. Dockrell works it to square leg for one. What a Powerplay for Zimbabwe. Ireland are reeling on 33/4. They need 142 runs in 84 balls.

Outside off, steered to third man for a single.

Excellent stuff from the bowler! On a length and outside off. Curtis Campher defends inside the line and misses.

On the hips, clipped to deep square leg for one.

Ohh! That was a ripper! Short again on middle. Dockrell did well to get his head away. That was a brilliant delivery.

That took off. Short and outside off. Dockrell looks to swing but misses.

Outside off, dabbed to point for one.

Short in length and on middle. Curtis Campher skips down and pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

Around off, pushed to point.

Length ball, outside off. Dockrell punches, the fielder at cover half-stops and a single is taken.

Wide! Down the leg side again. Wided.

On middle, this is hit to mid-wicket for one.

2 Wides! Down the leg side. Dockrell misses his pull. The keeper gets a hand on it and a single is taken.

Length and outside off, punched to cover.

Leg bye! On the pads, George Dockrell fends it on the leg side for a quick leg bye.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Second time in the over but this time it is Ireland's skipper who has to depart. Fantastic from Blessing Muzarabani! Extra bounce and pace from him. This is short in length and just outside the off pole. Andy Balbirnie has a feel for it, tries to push but gets an outside edge and Craig Ervine this time takes the catch to his left at first slip.

A quick single as this is pushed to mid on.

Full ball, outside off. Curtis Campher looks to push but it goes off the  outside edge to third man for a brace.

Curtis Campher comes in.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Blessing Muzarabani strikes in his first over! This is on a length and outside off, it nips away a touch. Harry Tector looks to push but gets an outside edge and it goes to Craig Ervine at first slip. Ireland are in real trouble. Three down now.

Four leg byes! Too straight on the pads. Harry Tector misses his clip and it goes off the pads to fine leg for four.

Outside off, dabbed to backward point for one.

A bouncer to Tector who evades it well.

Harry Tector is the new man in.

OUT! TIMBER! PLAYED ALL OVER IT! Lorcan Tucker shuffles way across here. This is on a length and on middle. He misses his wild swing across the line and the ball hits the stumps. Two for Richard Ngarava now.

On middle, dabbed to backward point for a single.

Richard Ngarava drops it short and on middle. Balbirnie looks to pull but gets a top edge behind the keeper for a couple of runs.

On off, kept out.

A big outswinger, length and outside off. Lorcan Tucker skips down and looks to smash it but misses.

Outside off, tapped to point.

Tendai Chatara makes it to swing away! This is on a length, outside off. Lorcan Tucker looks to drive but misses.

FOUR! Well played! On a length and outside off. Lorcan Tucker shuffles way across and scoops it over fine leg for a boundary.

Bit of movement in the air! This is full and on middle, swinging away. Lorcan Tucker uses his feet to keep it out.

A length ball, outside off. Lorcan Tucker looks to push but misses.

Tendai Chatara to start from the other end.

DROP AND RUN! Length ball on off. Lorcan Tucker blocks on the deck. Andy Balbirnie calls for a single and makes the other end.

FOUR! THAT WAS VERY CLOSE! On a length and on middle. Lorcan Tucker leans to defend but gets an inside edge past the leg stump and to fine leg for four runs.

A length ball, outside off. Lorcan Tucker takes the aerial route as he hits over covers but slices and it falls safely. Two runs. Ireland are underway.

On middle on a length, Lorcan Tucker defends it out.

Lorcan Tucker comes in next.

OUT! BOWLED! What a start for Zimbabwe! This is short in length and outside off. Paul Stirling gets on his toes as he looks to punch but the inward movement takes the inside edge and the ball deflects and hits the stumps. Just what Zimbabwe wanted! The big wicket of the power-hitter.

On a length and on middle. Paul Stirling defends it out.

OUT! TIMBER! No, he can't! This is full and on middle. Raza clears his front leg and tries to smash it away on the leg side but misses and the ball hits the stumps. ZIMBABWE END WITH 174.

Outside off, this is hit to long off for a single. Can Sikandar Raza finish with a boundary?

FOUR! through the gap! Fuller ball, outside off. Jongwe puts his bat on it, the ball goes off the outside edge and through the gap between backward point and short third man.

Full and outside off, driven through covers for a single.

A low full toss on middle. Raza whacks it to long on. Excellent running as they get two runs.

Short in length, outside off. Jongwe pulls it wide of deep mid-wicket for a single.

Outside off, cut to deep point for a single. 15 runs off the penultimte over.

FOUR! Another boundary! Short in length and outside off. Jongwe slashes it to deep point. There is a fielder patrolling but he is 5-6 yards away from the ropes.

Wide! Tries the slower ball but bowls way outside off. Jongwe slashes and misses.

This is slow, length and way outside off. Raza tries to drag it to deep mid-wicket but does not hit well. Luckily for him, the ball falls in the vacant region. A single.

Wide! This is way over the tramline. Wided.

A single as this is hit to cover.

Full and outside off. Jongwe goes inside-out over covers for a brace.

FOUR! Too much width, outside off. Jongwe slaps it through point late for a boundary.

Leg bye! Little follows on the leg side. Jongwe misses his clip and it goes to the left of the keeper for a leg bye. 150 up!

On the pads, whipped behind square leg for one.

On a length and on middle. Raza makes room to go over mid off. He hits from the upper half of the bat and the man at mid off was excited for a second but the ball goes above him. Two runs.

FOUR! A welcome boundary and it comes from Raza's blade! This is short and on leg. Raza whacks it over square leg for a boundary.

On the hips, nudged to square leg for a single.

Luke Jongwe walks in next.

OUT! This is full and outside off. Burl tries to break the shackles as n boundary was scored in the last three overs. He swings across but only to hit it high and to long on where Mark Adair takes the skier.

A bouncer to end the over, this is outside off. Raza swings and misses.

A slower length ball, outside off. Raza slaps it through point for a brace.

A widish yorker, outside off. Raza fails to squeeze it out.

A slower short ball on middle, pulled to deep mid-wicket for a single.

This one is angled against Burl. Length and outside off. Burl pokes and misses.

Length ball, outside off. Raza works it to point for a single.

Serves a short one to Burl who sits under it.

Ryan Burl comes in.

OUT! TAKEN! Ireland get the breakthrough! Nice idea but not the execution from Shumba! This is full and on middle. Shumba gets inside the line to paddle it but mistimes and it goes in the hands of Josh Little who takes a simple catch at short fine leg.

Wide! This is way outside off. Shumba swings and misses.

This is full and on middle. Raza makes room to loft over long off but slices it over backward point. The fielder gives a chase, slides in the deep and saves a single.

This is on a length and outside off. Shumba steps across and mistimes his pull to mid-wicket. One.

Short of a length, outside off, cut hard to sweeper cover for a single.

On a length and outside off. Shumba plays it to cover for a single.

Drops a short ball on middle. Raza looks to pull but misses.

Length ball, outside off, Raza punches but finds cover.

Dropped Length ball, outside of. Shumba pulls it straight back to Curtis Campher and it burst through his hands for a single. That was hit hard.

The short balls are not working for Ireland now! This is around off, it is pulled to deep mid-wicket for a couple.

Fuller ball, outside off, Raza drives it to deep point for one.

Bye! This is down the leg side. Shumba fails to pull. The keeper fumbles to collect and a wide is given.

Another six for Raza! Drops it short and on off. Raza rocks back and pulls it high over mid-wicket for a biggie. Sikandar Raza is playing a gem of an innings her.

Outside off, drilled to long off for a single.

Too short and outside off. Sikandar Raza cuts it to deep cover for a single.

A single as this is hit to deep cover.

FOUR! Tad short and outside off. Shumba pulls it past mid on for a boundary.

Around off, pushed to cover.

Flatter and outside off, Raza punches it straight to point. 13 runs off this over now.

On off, kept out.

FOUR! AND AGAIN! Floated outside off. Raza smashes it hard and beats the fielder at long off for a boundary.

Short and outside off, cut hard to deep cover for a couple of runs.

SIX! CLEARS THE FENCE! 6th Fifty for Raza in T20I! What a knock! Tossed up, outside off. Raza slogs it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. Not giving any chance to the fielder in deep.

Wide! Way outside off. Left for a wide.

Flatter ball, outside off. Raza looks to power it on the off side but mistimes it to point.

Length ball, outside off. Shumba pulls off the top end of his bat and past mid on. Two runs. A huge over for Zimbabwe as the collect 15 runs off it.

On middle, this is hit to mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Powered! Short of a length and on leg. Cramps Raza for the room but he adjusts quickly to pull to deep square leg for a boundary.

SIX! Sikandar Raza continues to go big! Short and outside off. Raza pulls it hard over deep square leg for a six.

SHARP TWO RUNS! Short ball on middle. Raza mistimes his pull over mid-wicket. The fielder from long on runs across and has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. A direct hit was needed.

What a ripper from Adair! A length ball, outside off, it held its line. Raza defends inside the line and gets beaten on the outside edge.

Short and outside off, pulled past mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

On middle, Shumba drops it to mid-wicket. A bit of miscommunication between the batters for a single but they deny in the end.

Length ball on middle. Raza plays it to deep square leg for a single.

Length ball on middle. Shumba bunts it to square leg and gets off the mark with a single.

Shorter and on middle. Raza hops and fends it to mid-wicket awkwardly for one.

Outside off. Blocked by Raza.

OUT! TAKEN! Tag-team work from Ireland and they break the stand that started to trouble them. Flat and outside off. Williams again looks to clear the mid-wicket fence. Mark Adair uses his height as he stretches and takes above his head but sees his momentum taking him over the ropes. He lobs the ball for Harry Tector who takes it with ease inside the ground.

SIX! Williams hits one! Tossed up, outside off. Williams slog-sweeps it. He gets more height but enough distance to clear the mid-wicket fence.

A single as this is hit to sweeper cover.

FOUR! Wonderful shot! Flatter ball, outside off. Raza thumps it past cover, no chance for the fielder in the deep. Fout more.

TWO RUNS! Full ball, outside off, a leggie. Raza lofts it to deep cover for a brace.

This is way outside off, dragged to deep mid-wicket for one.

SIX! Raza playing with some aggression! Short in length and on middle. Raza pulls it flat and wide of the fielder at deep sqaure leg.

On middle, kept out.

Short again, angling down. Raza thinks to pull but leaves it alone. He asks for a wide but nothing given.

SIX! CLOBBERED! Short and on middle. Raza hoicks it all the way over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Outside off, cut through point for one.

Length ball, outside off. Raza knocks it through covers for one.

A single to end the over as this is hit to mid-wicket.

Around off, punched to cover.

Full ball, way outside off, Sean looks to drive but gets an outside edge to short third man for a single.

On middle, this one skids on. Raza eases it to long on for a single.

FOUR! Good shot! Short ball, outside off. Raza rocks back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for four runs.

Floated ball, around off. Sean works it to mid-wicket for one.

A bouncer, outside off. Raza leaves it alone.

On middle, it's pulled to deep square leg for one.

Scrambled seam! Length and outside off. Williams misses his push.

A length ball, outside off. Williams fails to connect his bat.

Length ball, just wide of off. Williams blocks it out.

Length ball, around off. Raza works it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Full ball, outside off. Raza punches it through covers for one. Powerplay done! Zimbabwe are on 41/3.

Tossed up on middle, swept to deep square leg for one.

Wide! This one is sliding down. Williams misses his flick. Good work from the keeper again there.

Flatter and outside off, slapped to deep cover for a single.

Sikandar Raza is the new man in.

OUT! STUMPED! The skipper goes now! This is just excellent from Ireland! Singh gets his first one. Craig Ervine comes down the track again. Simi Singh anticipates that and serves it quicker and around leg. Ervine is cramped as he looks to heave but misses and the keeper makes no mistake. Three down now, Zimbabwe.

On middle. Ervine skips down and eases it to mid off.

Tossed up on off. Kept out.

Sean Williams comes  in.

OUT! TAKEN! The short ball works again and Josh Little has his second wicket! This is on middle. Wesley Madhevere pulls but doesn't connect it well. Gareth Delany at deep square leg judges the flight well and takes it. Wesley Madhevere doesn't make most of the lifeline given.

Length ball on middle. Wesley Madhevere bunts it to square leg.

FOUR! Touch short and on middle. Wesley Madhevere pulls and hits it through mid-wicket for a boundary.

Outside off, guided to third man for a single.

Length and on off. Wesley Madhevere nudges it to square leg for one.

Length ball, outside off. Wesley Madhevere looks to defend but gets beaten on the outside edge.

FOUR! A boundary to end the over! A good one for Zimbabwe as 11 comes off it. On middle, Ervine shuffles across and flicks it to deep square leg for four.

Length ball, outside off. Wesley Madhevere punches it to cover for a single.

Drop and run! Outside off, this is hit to backward point for one.

Around off, pushed through covers for one.

FOUR! Connected well! Short of a length and on middle, this is pulled hard behind square leg for four runs.

Length ball, angling down. Wesley Madhevere mistimes his pull and it goes to the keeper on a bounce.

Length ball, outside off. Ervine looks to push but misses.

In the air and safe! Zimbabwe batters are troubled by the extra bounce. Short again on middle. Ervine looks to pull but top edges it high and just far away from Simi Singh who runs back from short fine leg to collect. Two runs.

On a length and outside off. Ervine knocks it to cover.

Length and on middle. Defended.

Full again, Wesley Madhevere mistimes his drive to mid on and takes off for a quick single.

Full and outside off, driven straight to covers.

Outside off, worked to deep point for a single.

Wide! Too short and on off. Wesley Madhevere leaves.

FOUR! Dropped! Short ball on middle. Wesley Madhevere pulls it flat. Curtis Campher is standing a few yards out at deep square leg. He mistimes his jump and lets it through his hands for a boundary.

Short in length and on middle, from wide of the crease. Wesley Madhevere looks to work on the leg side but misses.

Leg bye! On the hips, Ervine misses his clip and it goes off the pads to point.

Length ball, outside off. Wesley Madhevere guides it past point off the splice for one.

Length ball, outside off. Ervine drops it in front of point for a quick single.

Mark Adair to bowl from the other end.

Length and on middle, played back to the bowler.

FOUR! EDGY RUNS! Short again on middle. Wesley Madhevere mistimes his pull, it goes off the top edge behind the keeper for a boundary.

Four leg byes! Zimbabwe are underway! Too straight from Little. On the pads, Wesley Madhevere misses his flick and it goes off the pads to the fine leg fence.

Length and on middle. Wesley Madhevere blocks it out.

Wesley Madhevere is the new man in.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Just the start Ireland wanted! What a delivery from Little! This is short and on middle, it nips in and there is extra bounce as well. Regis Chakabva tries to fend it away as he brings his bat up but it probably brushed the gloves before going into the mitts of the keeper, Lorcan Tucker. Looks like it went off the shoulder of the bat.

Little starts with a bouncer, outside off. Regis Chakabva leaves it alone for the keeper.

We are all set for the action. The Irish players have taken their position. Josh Little to start with the ball. Regis Chakabva and Craig Ervine to open for Zimbabwe. The players take a knee as they support the BLM movement. Let's play...

The players are out in the middle. It is pretty chilly out there. First, the national anthems. It will be Ireland's first followed by Zimbabwe's.

Zimbabwe (Playing XI) - Regis Chakabva (WK), Craig Ervine (C), Wesley Madhevere, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Ryan Burl, Luke Jongwe, Tendai Chatara, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani.

Ireland (Playing XI) - Andy Balbirnie (C), Paul Stirling, Lorcan Tucker (WK), Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Simi Singh, Barry McCarthy, Josh Little.

Craig Ervine, the captain of Zimbabwe says he is happy to bat first. Adds the boundaries are big and it is not easy to chase down. Shares that they have to play good cricket and show everyone that they belong here. Admits Raza is in superb form and Blessing Muzarabani is coming back after the injury.

Andy Balbirnie, the skipper of Ireland says it is a good wicket. Adds they saw the first game and they have an idea of how the pitch will play and admits about the bigger boundaries. Ends by informing his team.

TOSS - Ireland won the toss and they will BOWL first.

So, as expected earlier, Scotland win their game. What a tournament this is turning out to be! Let's now shift our attention to this game. Toss coming up next.