Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
20 | 9 Runs 1 Wkt | ZIM: 148/9 | RR: 7.40

  • Blessing Muzarabani2 (1b)
  • Trevor Gwandu5 (5b)
  • Barry McCarthy4-0-37-2
  • Mark Adair4-0-36-2

Right! That's all from us for tonight. Fingers do need some rest now, with the kind of end we have had. Do join us for the second T20I day after tomorrow. For tonight, on behalf of Ranjit and Abhimanyu, this is Sudarshanan bidding you goodbye. Thanks for your company. Till the next time, take care, adios!

10:18pm Time for the presentation

Paul Stirling, Ireland captain: "First of all it was a brilliant game. Hopefully we entertained the spectators here. Close game. You can point the loss at different directions but it was a good game. Not one area but we'll have a good look at different facts. We lost wickets in crucial points. Should have got to 160. We'll assess and come back better. [Bowlers] We picked up wickets at crucial points. That's how you close T20 games. A run here and there was crucial. [Adair catch] We work that out and it is not easy, especially at a new venue under lights."

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza, Player of the Match: "Nice to be part of history. Credit to fans for coming out in numbers. First game under lights, cracker of a game. Thought they got five to eight too many. Credit to Delany to have batted the way he did. Happy with the chase, credit to the batters. Made mistakes here and there but important that we got over the line. I am never a guy who looks into personal performances. I was gutted to have not finished the game. The little knock from Clive Madande was very crucial. Wessly got out at a wrong time. Pretty happy and proud of my team. Just wanted to tell Madande that if you remain positive, you'll see the ball better. When you give responsibility to these guys they do well. Everything that happens stays on the field."

10:08pm Hold your breath. Uff! Let that drama sink in. A game for the ages. Ireland players walk off fully knowing they were a millimeter away from taking the lead this series. Zimbabwe players walk down to shake hands, fully aware that had Muzarabani attempted any othre shot, the win would have prolly not been theirs. A game of fine margins. A historic first international game under floodlights at the Harare Sports Club and sure it has been a memorable one.

Spare a thought for Little and Young, who bowled some tight overs even as the game was getting tight with Zimbabwe having their noses ahead. Little knocked over the aggressive Madande to turn the tables. And then Adair struck what seemed like a telling blow with Raza's scalp. McCarthy kept his calm in crucial phases but it was just not enough. Zimbabwe have escaped to a win but will have to take a hard look at their batting, that once again cost them. It was all Raza with the bat after it was all Raza with the ball earlier, with a three-for.

Graham: "Wow, what a match !!! Congrats Zim"

Panashe: "Shhhhhhh this is one of the greatest escape from Zim"

19.6
2
McCarthy to Muzarabani, 2 runs, Inside edge, beats Tucker and Zimbabwe win! It is all happening and Harare finds its voice. Under lights for the first time. Ufff! McCarthy bowls to plan - full and just outside off. Muzarabani looks to hit one way but the ball goes the other. The wicketkeeper gets down but the ball beats him. And before fine leg cuts it off, they run two and seal the win that sees Zimbabwe go 1-0 up!

Adair is off the field. A lonnnggg team chat at the bowler's mark even as Blessing Muzarabani takes strike. Two to win, one for a Super Over. McCarthy taking his own sweet time to set his field. Short cover, mid-off, backward point, cover-point, midwicket, fine leg all in the ring. Long-on and deep backward square leg out. Wait, fine leg goes out

19.5
W
McCarthy to Ngarava, OUT, YOU CANNOT DO THAT MARK ADAIR! You cannot do that. Adair has pulled out one of the greatest catches in the sport. No exaggeration. McCarthy bowls another off-pace length ball angling away, instead of working it through the on side, Ngarava goes for the big heave across the line and gets a thick outside edge. Seems to have made enough contact to beat short third running back. But Adair, while doing so, has his eyes on the ball, leaps, dives takes it and lands on his neck. A calm clap from the bowler even as Adair gathers himself

R Ngarava c Adair b McCarthy 5 (8m 4b 1x4 0x6) SR: 125.00

Conference. McCarthy, Little, Stirling. Midwicket comes in, and then goes back out. Long-on goes back, fine leg back, deep backward square leg back

19.4
4
McCarthy to Ngarava, FOUR, Swings it through the leg side. Ngarava, you beauty. Gets the Harare crowd back on its feet. Sees the length ball from McCarthy around middle and leg. Gives it the almighty heave through square leg. Slower offcutter, change of pace, nothing matters for Ngarava and his agricultural pull
19.3
1
McCarthy to Gwandu, 1 run, Cracking sound off the bat, when he heaved the length ball across the line. But it was hit straight to deep midwicket
19.2
2
McCarthy to Gwandu, 2 runs, Slaps it over the bowler's head, and they run back for two. Another slower length ball outside off, he thwacks it almost straight to the bowler
19.1
0
McCarthy to Gwandu, no run, Length ball outside off, the slower one, he has a swing but misses

Superb over from Adair leaves Zimbabwe with 9 to get in the final over. McCarthy with the responsibility for Ireland.

END OF OVER:
19 | 4 Runs 2 Wkts | ZIM: 139/8 (9 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 7.31, RRR: 9.00)

  • Trevor Gwandu2 (2b)
  • Richard Ngarava1 (2b)
  • Mark Adair4-0-36-2
  • Josh Little4-0-17-2
18.6
1
Adair to Gwandu, 1 run, Slower full ball on middle, clipped through midwicket
18.5
1
Adair to Ngarava, 1 run, Back of a length, angling away, he looks to heave it away but lobs it to the vacant mid-off region
18.4
0
Adair to Ngarava, no run, Slower one angling away, he looks to go hard at that but misses

Richard Ngarava given a few words of wisdom from Raza as he walked in

18.3
W
Adair to Sikandar Raza, OUT, Massive wicket as Raza falls. Harare silenced. Adair deals a telling blow to once again swing the game. Lands it on a length outside off, takes the pace off. Raza backs away but then reaches out to hit it over extra cover but toe-ends it to Stirling, who comes forward and dives to pouch that. Is that it for Zimbabwe?

Sikandar Raza c Stirling b Adair 65 (75m 42b 5x4 2x6) SR: 154.76

18.3
1w
Adair to Sikandar Raza, 1 wide, Very full and down leg, he misses the flick. Applause as wide is signalled
18.2
1
Adair to Gwandu, 1 run, Slower full one around off, pushes it towards short midwicket and sets off. McCarthy gets around and under-arms the throw but misses at the bowler's end

Trevor Gwandu with the bat now. Gave away 20 in the final over. Can he hang around and ensure a Zimbabwe win?

18.1
W
Adair to Jongwe, OUT, The bouncer takes Jongwe by surprise. In line of the stumps, he goes for the pull before belatedly trying to back away. But the feather of the top edge was had and it flew straight to the wicketkeeper

LM Jongwe c †Tucker b Adair 2 (4m 4b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00

Adair for the penultimate

END OF OVER:
18 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | ZIM: 135/6 (13 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.50, RRR: 6.50)

  • Luke Jongwe2 (3b)
  • Sikandar Raza65 (41b)
  • Josh Little4-0-17-2
  • Barry McCarthy3-0-28-1
17.6
1
Little to Jongwe, 1 run, Full and outside off, drives it straight to mid-off and sets off. Dives desperately but the fielder misses the shy
17.5
1
Little to Sikandar Raza, 1 run, Full on leg, defends it to the on side and gets to the other end
17.4
1
Little to Jongwe, 1 run, Full on middle, yes-no almost lands them in trouble but Dockrell fails to gather it in first go. Defensively pushes it towards short midwicket and sets off before stopping. Raza was already off from the other end and, as a result, Jongwe had to respond
17.3
0
Little to Jongwe, no run, Full on off, hangs back and defends it to the off side

Luke Jongwe is the new batter marking guard

17.2
W
Little to Madande, OUT, Bowled him. Little lands one on a length angling away, Madande is not entirely forward and looks to flick it away. Gets a thick inside edge onto the stumps. End of an impressive cameo

C Madande b Little 20 (14m 11b 2x4 1x6) SR: 181.81

17.1
2
Little to Madande, 2 runs, Full on the pads, clipped away through backward square leg

A run a ball 18 needed as Little returns

END OF OVER:
17 | 20 Runs | ZIM: 130/5 (18 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.64, RRR: 6.00)

  • Clive Madande18 (9b)
  • Sikandar Raza64 (40b)
  • Barry McCarthy3-0-28-1
  • Mark Adair3-0-32-0
16.6
1
McCarthy to Madande, 1 run, Another back of a length ball angling in, pulled to deep midwicket
16.5
4
McCarthy to Madande, FOUR, Short again, Madande nails the pull in front of deep square leg this time. Hops and quickly gets his bat across to hit it off the meat
16.4
6
McCarthy to Madande, SIX, Powers the pull into the lap of the celebrating Harare spectators. McCarthy digs it short again but Madande is up to the task and sends it soaring

Zimbabwe 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st15W MadhevereT Marumani
2nd6SC WilliamsW Madhevere
3rd32Sikandar RazaW Madhevere
4th38Sikandar RazaRP Burl
5th6Sikandar RazaBJ Bennett
6th35Sikandar RazaC Madande
7th3Sikandar RazaLM Jongwe
8th2Sikandar RazaT Gwandu
9th9R NgaravaT Gwandu
10th2B MuzarabaniT Gwandu