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Qualification mission not impossible but uphill battle for Ireland after defeat to Zimbabwe

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Home side Zimbabwe struggled early, before regrouping to defeat Ireland by 107 runs in the first Super Six Stage match for each side in Harare today.
Under blue skies Ireland Captain William Porterfield called correctly and won the toss, having no hesitation in sending Zimbabwe in to bat first. Graham Ford’s team made one change from the last match victory over the UAE with Gary Wilson – returning to the squad after a short trip home for the birth of his child – replacing Simi Singh.

The Zimbabwean openers Cephas Zhuwao (20 runs off 18 balls; 1 x four, 2 x sixes) and Solomon Mire (11 runs off 15 balls; 1 x six) got Zimbabwe off to a sprightly start, scoring at better than a run-a-ball, including a massive six hit by Zhuwao off Tim Murtagh that bounced on – and then over – the roof of the grandstand.

Zhuwao, who had been re-called to the Zimbabwean side for this tournament having not played for his national team since 2011, looked dangerous but tried his luck one too many times and holed out at long-off with Boyd Rankin taking a straightforward catch from the bowling of Barry McCarthy.

Mire was then joined by the experienced top-order batsman Hamilton Masakadza (18 runs off 24 balls; 2 x fours) and the pair continued to gather runs at pace, pushing the Zimbawean score to 50 in the ninth over. Wanting to slow the scoring by taking the pace off the ball, Captain Porterfied turned to spinner Andy McBrine and was rewarded with immediate success. McBrine beat the bat with a slightly flatter ball and had Mire stumped by Niall O’Brien, whose glovework has been exceptional during the tournament so far.

The wicket brought in-form wicketkeeper-batsman Brendan Taylor to the crease. The Harare-born right-hander has had an outstanding tournament with the bat so far, racking up 279 runs in his four innings at an average of 69.75, including a century against Nepal. Taylor could only look on helplessly as his batting partner Masakadza (18 runs off 24 balls; 2 x fours) fended at a perfect length ball by Boyd Rankin that moved off the seam and clipped the edge of the bat through to Niall O’Brien.

A 30-run stand with Sean Williams (9 runs off 15 balls) then steadied the innings, but with the Zimbabwean total on 80 Porterfield re-introduced Murtagh to the attack and the change made the breakthrough once more. Williams was tempted into a pull-shot and hit the ball straight down the throat of McCarthy at deep square leg.

Taylor looked in ominous touch though, confidently moving to 25 runs (41 balls; 1 x four, 1 x six) but then attempted to play a reverse-sweep off McBrine and was adjudged leg before wicket.

With Zimbabwe teetering on 87-5, all-rounder Craig Ervine and Sikandar Raza set about a recovery job, trying to stop the wickets and get the scoring rate back on track.

However, after Ervine had compiled a well-made 20 (26 balls; 2 x fours, 1 x six) he played a ball into the off side and took off for what he obviously thought was a safe single. Niall O’Brien, seeing the opportunity, rushed out from behind the stumps and, removing his right glove, swooped down to pick up and ball and throw in one action. His quick thinking saw Ervine caught a few inches short when the stumps were broken. After the umpire referred the decision to the third umpire, Ervine was on his way back to the pavilion with Zimbabwe slumping to 112-6.

Raza hit 69*
Image: Sikandar Raza’s innings of 69* proved the difference

Raza was joined by the Zimbabwean captain Graeme Cremer. The 31-year old leg-spinner and lower-order batsman held steady and allowed Raza to begin to up the scoring rate. The pair put on 27 important runs, but with Cremer on 4 (23 balls) the economical Kevin O’Brien found some in-swing on an ideal line and went straight through the skipper’s defences to send his leg-stump cartwheeling.

The Pakistan-born Raza was looking a forlorn figure at the other end and needed a batting partner just to occupy the crease while he took the run-scoring responsibility. Enter Tendai Chisoro, the 30-year old left-handed seamer in only his 15th ODI appearance for Zimbabwe. Raza and Chisoro battled some decent line and length bowling and put on an important 42-run partnership that put Zimbabwe back into the game.

Porterfield turned again to Murtagh for a third spell, and the breakthrough came with the score on 181 with Murtagh having Chisoro caught behind on 21 (42 balls; 3 x fours).

Murtagh struck again in his next over, leaving Zimbabwe on 184-9.

Raza was joined by tail-ender Blessing Muzarabani who in his ODI career to date had only scored nine runs from nine innings. However, Muzarabani had featured in the tense tied-match against Scotland on Monday and had shown signs of knowing how to hold an end up in tense moments.

Raza, though, sensed the end was nigh and went on the attack. He blasted his way past fifty, taking two big sixes of McCarthy’s final over, and ended on 69* (83 balls; 4 x fours, 3 x sixes). This was Raza’s 13th half-century in ODIs but could be his most important as he took Zimbabwe to 211-9 at the end of 50 overs. Raza’s innings was first rate, and put Zimbabwe well and truly in the game.

After receiving some rough treatment in his first spell, Murtagh came back well and finished the pick of the bowlers with 3-36 (10 overs), ably supported by McBrine with 2-42 (10 overs), and the highly economical bowling of Kevin O’Brien with 1-22 (8 overs) and Boyd Rankin with 1-35 (10 overs).

Recognition must also be given to the proficient work of Niall O’Brien behind the stumps. The experienced Irish wicketkeeper-batsman, playing in his 98th ODI, took three catches, a stumping and effected an important run out. His performances with the gloves have played a vital part of the Ireland team performance during the tournament to date.

Niall O'Brien
Image: Niall O’Brien’s wicketkeeping was a stand out today

Needing 212 runs to win, Ireland’s innings got off to the worst of possible starts losing Captain Porterfield for 7 (11 balls; 1 x four), Andrew Balbirnie for 2 (14 balls) and Ed Joyce 0 (2 balls) leaving the batting side teetering at 18-3 in the eighth over.

Niall O’Brien showed a glimpse of fight, but fell on 8 (14 balls; 1 x four) to a diving catch by Muzarabani. Niall was replaced by brother Kevin who likewise demonstrated an intention to settle the innings and build a partnership with Stirling. After moving Ireland on to 54, Kevin O’Brien (7 runs off 15 balls; 1 x four) played tentatively at a spinning ball outside the off stump from Sean Williams and was caught at first slip by Hamilton Masakadza.

With the score at 54-5 in the 16th over, Gary Wilson strode to the crease to join Stirling. The pair set about a consolidation partnership, seeking to stem the fall of wickets.

Stirling looked confident but aware that the situation required a more circumspect innings. Compiling 32 runs from the next 11 overs, the pair grew increasingly confident but with Stirling on 41 (70 balls; 5 x fours) disaster struck. Stirling played back to a ball, playing it slowly into the off-side. He set off for a single but, after a mix-up with the non-striker, Stirling was caught short trying to regain his ground and was run out by a bat-length.

McBrine then joined Wilson (15 runs off 41 balls; 1 x four), but the latter fell soon after, adjudged leg before wicket to Zimbabwe Captain and leg-spinner Cremer. The last three wickets of McCarthy (2), Rankin (1) and Murtagh (4) fell in quick succession and Ireland finished on 104 in the 35th over.

Sikander Raza was deservedly named player of the match.

Captain William Porterfield said after the match:

“Having given ourselves 200 to chase any day of the week you’d take it, but we let ourselves down with the bat. We were very confident at half time, but in the second half we let ourselves down.”

In order to qualify, Ireland will need to win both remaining matches and see some helpful results elsewhere. The next two Super Six Stage games are:

• Ireland v Scotland (Sun 18 March)
• Ireland v Afghanistan (Fri 23 March)

MATCH SUMMARY

IRELAND v ZIMBABWE, 50-over match, Harare Sports Centre, Harare

• Zimbabwe 211-9 (50 overs; S Raza 69*, B Taylor 25; T Murtagh 3-36, McBrine 2-42, K O’Brien 1-22)
• Ireland 104 all out (34.2 overs; P Stirling 41, Wilson 15; G Cremer 3-18, T Chisoro 3-22)

Zimbabwe won by 107 runs.

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Defeat to Zimbabwe leaves an uphill task for qualification
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