Ireland v Zimbabwe
Wisden's review of the 30th match, Ireland v Zimbabwe
15-Apr-2016
At Hobart, March 7, 2015 (day/night). Ireland won by five runs. Toss: Zimbabwe.
A nailbiting conclusion went Ireland's way thanks in part to a controversial catch. With Zimbabwe needing 32 from 20 balls, Williams launched Kevin O'Brien to deep midwicket, where Mooney, leaping high, clung on. It was difficult to tell whether he had touched the boundary; after umpteen replays some claimed the triangular foam had moved a fraction, but by then Williams had accepted Mooney's word and left the field. Had the umpires awarded a six, Williams would have reached three figures, and Zimbabwe would have been in the box seat. All the same, it looked as if Mupariwa, who took 18 off the penultimate over, might yet steal the game: Zimbabwe required seven from the last with two wickets remaining. But Chakabva played on, and Mupariwa skied to long-on, where Porterfield dived forward to take the catch - sparking scenes of Irish relief as much as celebration. Balbirnie, who had run himself out on 97 trying to keep the strike in the last over, put on 138 with Joyce, winner of the match award for an innings of 112 from 103 balls. Cusack, perhaps, had a stronger claim, holding his nerve at the death to claim four for 32, a World Cup best for Ireland. That included Taylor who, after passing 5,000 one day international runs, was undone when he lofted a superb slower ball to mid-on. Ireland, whose highest one-day international total proved just enough, retained hopes of a quarterfinal place. IAN CALLENDER
Man of the Match: E. C. Joyce.
A nailbiting conclusion went Ireland's way thanks in part to a controversial catch. With Zimbabwe needing 32 from 20 balls, Williams launched Kevin O'Brien to deep midwicket, where Mooney, leaping high, clung on. It was difficult to tell whether he had touched the boundary; after umpteen replays some claimed the triangular foam had moved a fraction, but by then Williams had accepted Mooney's word and left the field. Had the umpires awarded a six, Williams would have reached three figures, and Zimbabwe would have been in the box seat. All the same, it looked as if Mupariwa, who took 18 off the penultimate over, might yet steal the game: Zimbabwe required seven from the last with two wickets remaining. But Chakabva played on, and Mupariwa skied to long-on, where Porterfield dived forward to take the catch - sparking scenes of Irish relief as much as celebration. Balbirnie, who had run himself out on 97 trying to keep the strike in the last over, put on 138 with Joyce, winner of the match award for an innings of 112 from 103 balls. Cusack, perhaps, had a stronger claim, holding his nerve at the death to claim four for 32, a World Cup best for Ireland. That included Taylor who, after passing 5,000 one day international runs, was undone when he lofted a superb slower ball to mid-on. Ireland, whose highest one-day international total proved just enough, retained hopes of a quarterfinal place. IAN CALLENDER
Man of the Match: E. C. Joyce.