Zimbabwe vs Ireland, 1st ODI at Harare, Oct 09 2015 - Match Result

Gary Wilson and Andy McBrine's 43-run partnership is IRE's highest for the 9th wicket in ODIs, breaking the record of 39 between Jeremy Bray and Dave Langford-Smith

Gary Wilson has broken the record for most dismissals by a wicketkeeper (47) in ODIs for IRE, going past Niall O'Brien's 45

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Sikandar Raza holds nerve to deny Ireland

Sikandar Raza produced a fine knock under pressure to guide Zimbabwe to a 1-0 series lead against Ireland in Harare

09-Oct-2015•The Report by Liam Brickhill in Harare

Match centre Scores : Freeman Chigovera • Comms : Liam Brickhill

Scorecard summary

Ireland1 Inn

219/8(50 overs)

*70 (88)

2/35 (10)

53 (88)

2/45 (10)

Zimbabwe2 Inn

222/8(49 overs)

*60 (72)

2/29 (10)

60 (78)

2/53 (10)

Over49

7 runs

ZIM 222/8CRR: 4.53

T Panyangara 8 (11b 1x4)Sikandar Raza 60 (72b 4x4)

TJ Murtagh1/52 (10)

5.35pm Though Raza's knock sealed the result, the character of this game was decided by the spinners on both sides. Zimbabwe's combination of John Nyumbu, Sean Williams and debutant Wellington Masakadza took a combined 5 for 125 in 29 overs, while George Dockrell was a handful in the afternoon and Ireland's slow bowlers kept Zimbabwe to 117 for 4 in 30 overs. Read all about the day's action in my match report, which will be up presently. Your commentator today has been Liam Brickhill at Harare Sports Club. Thanks for tuning in, and please do catch our coverage of the next match on Sunday. It's sure to be a cracker! Goodbye

5.15pm Joyous celebration from Zimbabwe's supporters in the ground as Raza and Panyangara embrace in the middle of the pitch. What a match. Ireland fought the hosts for every single run, but Zimbabwe have squeaked home. I need to lie down.

It was said before the match that there is very little indeed to separate these teams, and that's proved to be the case. Their two innings followed remarkably similar courses. Ireland were 39 for 2 in the 10th over, Zimbabwe were 44 for 2 in the 9th. Ireland were 158 for 5 in the 40th over, Zimbabwe were 152 for 5 in the 34th. Ultimately, Raza's frenetic innings at the death proved the difference, and he's named Man of the Match

Vee: "Good to see two evenly matched international sides fight it down to the wire. Close matches like these are what the true international die hard fans want to see. All the way from the West Indies, best of luck to both teams! "

jason gridley: "Raza is a special bloke. Won't be surprised if he ends up leading the side soon. Good role model too "

48.6

Murtagh to Panyangara, FOUR runs

what a way to finish the match! Panyangara steps down the track to meet the ball on the half volley,and crunches the ball straight down the ground for four! Scenes!

2 off 7, last ball of the over. Yet another Zimbabwe v Ireland game goes down to the wire. Why don't these teams play each other more often?

48.5

Murtagh to Raza, 1 run

huge cheers erupt as Raza sends the ball down to third man with an angled bat.

Raza is eyeing the deep midwicket boundary.

48.4

Murtagh to Panyangara, 1 run

hit down the ground, but a diving mid-off cuts it off! That would have been the game, but it's just a single.

One hit will do it.

48.4

Murtagh to Panyangara, 1 wide

wide ball! Murtagh shoots this one down the leg side. Panyangara aimed a Moin Khan-esque flick at it, but couldn't connect. Still, a run and an extra ball for Zimbabwe.

48.3

•

Murtagh to Panyangara, no run

another dot ball, pressure builds. This was on a length outside off. Panyangara wanted the single to third man, but he found point instead.

In case you're wondering, the light is still good at Harare Sports Club!

48.2

•

Murtagh to Panyangara, no run

another dot. It's hard to see where the gap in the field is for Panyangara. He pushes this one to point and charges down the track, but Raza sends him back.

george: "a late wicket could make it interesting!"

48.1

•

Murtagh to Panyangara, no run

a length delivery is tapped to mid-on, and there's no run there.

Zimbabwe need five runs in two overs. There's singing and dancing down at Castle Corner. Porterfield brings the field in with Panyangara on strike.

Over48

6 runs

ZIM 215/8CRR: 4.47 RRR: 2.50

T Panyangara 3 (6b)Sikandar Raza 59 (71b 4x4)

KJ O'Brien0/24 (4)

Six singles in that over. Ireland have to push for the wicket now, and they have Panyangara on strike.

47.6

K O'Brien to Panyangara, 1 run

off the inside edge! Barely a ball has passed without drama in the last 10 minutes. Panyangara stepped forward and wanted to drive down the ground, but the ball flew off the inside edge and went to square leg instead.

47.5

K O'Brien to Raza, 1 run

clubbed down the ground again. O'Brien sticks out a boot, but he can't stop it and they take a single.

7 off 14 now. Singles will win it for Zimbabwe

47.4

K O'Brien to Panyangara, 1 run

in the air again! This was the leading edge now, and it popped up just past a diving fielder at short extra cover. They charge through for a single, and might have had an overthrow too.

47.3

K O'Brien to Raza, 1 run

smashed back at the bowler! I don't think he got a hand to it, though it was in the air. Just the single

47.2

K O'Brien to Panyangara, 1 run

nicely played by the tailender. He gets forward and drives with a straight bat to collect a single to mid-off's right.

Long-off comes up to mid-off now. Third man goes out.

47.1

K O'Brien to Raza, 1 run

short of a good length, Raza slaps it like a tennis forehand down to long-off.

11 off 18, two wickets in hand. A long conference between O'Brien and his captain. Fine leg and third man are up. Long-on and long-off are out.

Dan: "Oh God. I can't read this anymore! Too tense. I'm not even any of these teams' supporters"

Over47

6 runs, 1 wicket

ZIM 209/8CRR: 4.44 RRR: 3.66

T Panyangara 0 (3b)Sikandar Raza 56 (68b 4x4)

TJ Murtagh1/45 (9)

46.6

•

Murtagh to Panyangara, no run

a yorker on middle and off is dug out to mid-off, Panyangara survives.

The crowd at Castle Corner are all on their feet, and very vocal.

46.5

•

Murtagh to Panyangara, no run

fuller this time, and Panyangara leans forward to drive to point.

46.4

•

Murtagh to Panyangara, no run

a length delivery is met with a dead bat from Panyangara

What's more, Tinashe Panyangara will now be on strike.

46.3

Murtagh to Raza, 2 runs, OUT

drama! Is there another twist in this tale? Raza lofted a length delivery out to deep cover, where it fell safely. They took the first two runs easily, but Raza wanted a third. Masakadza committed to the run straight away, but it was never on. Joyce's throw from the deep went to Porterfield at cover, who relayed it to the keeper, catching the batsman well short.

Wellington Masakadza run out (Joyce/Porterfield) 10 (18b 0x4 0x6 32m) SR: 55.55

Sanjay: "Almost every Zimbabwe vs Ireland ODIs produced nail bitters.. New Rivalry in cricket?"

46.2

Murtagh to Raza, 2 runs

is that another drop? It looked like it! A really tough chance for Wilson behind the stumps. It was another full ball, but this time the shot came off the face of the bat and flew past the keeper.

ZCFOutkast: "We can't watch it, but that has to be Raza's finest ODI innings surely - Even though he has 3 tons and one other fifity."

46.1

Murtagh to Raza, 2 runs

nicely played by Raza. The ball was full and wide, yorker length really, but he jammed the bat down on it to get the ball through point. Raza always wanted the second run, and returns to his crease as the throw came in.

Raza also brought up Zimbabwe's 200 with the single that brought his fifty.

Trevor: "Come on Castle Corner get the boys home, tune-up Emma, Emmanueri!!"