Ireland have done it! Dockrell finishes the job with two balls to spare, slicing it above short third! The series is level. Dockrell with a calm, composed celebration. Burl will lead Zimbabwe off the pitch after another cracker of a game, despite the hosts falling short this time
Zimbabwe vs Ireland, 2nd T20I at Harare, ZIM v IRE, Dec 09 2023 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
2nd T20I, Harare, December 09, 2023, Ireland tour of Zimbabwe
New
IRE
Full commentary
4.50pm So that is all from us today. Join us tomorrow at the same time for the series decider, which, if the first two games are anything to go by, should be a cracking contest. This is Abhimanyu, signing off on behalf of Binoy George and K Vairavan. Ciao, people!
4.42pm Time for the presentation ceremony!
Harry Tector the player of the match: "Absolutely! It feels like every game against Zimbabwe goes to the last over. [On partnership with Campher] It's certainly a period as a middle order we have spoken about. Happy with how we've done there. Obviously disappointed to get out when I did but happy the lads finished the job. I think the top three we have is world class and they've been doing that for a long time so long may they continue."
Paul Stirling: "[On Tector and Campher] That was a real mature partnership by those two batters. Real sign of the maturity they've shown in the last couple of years. [On Ireland's slow start with the bat] I think that's just T20 cricket. Zimbabwe's opening bowlers bowled well. I think there's no real excuse for our fielding not being up to the highest standards. We need to bring it tomorrow."
Ryan Burl, standing in for stand-in captain Sean Williams: "Unfortunately one of those things, he's [Williams] got a niggle. Very good start by our guys at a top but unfortunately a cluster of wickets in the middle. We consolidated in the end but we were probably 15-20 runs short. [On Kamunhukamwe] Nice to see him make the most of this opportunity. The boys are always looking to learn and always taking on as much information on board. Unfortunately we didn't put enough runs to defend. [On the Bennett over] One of those things that are high-risk, high reward.
Don't go anywhere, we will bring you the updates from the post-match presentation soon!
Thamizhachi : "If catches win matches, drops lose you matches. Marumani dropped the match for Zimbabwe ! Had he taken the catch , 2 runs would have been stopped, new batter on strike !!! "
DaWolf: "Absolutely dropped the match there! Followed by the boundary. Cruel game."
4.35pm So, there we have it! Another exciting contest and now the series is level! Harry Tector and Curtis Campher were the heroes with the bat, but of course Mark Adair and George Dockrell did their bit at the death in a tense chase. Zimbabwe had to deal with an injury to stand-in captain Sean Williams, with Sikandar Raza already out due to a two-match ban. They missed his overs of spin as Ireland cashed in on Trevor Gwandu. Tector and Campher batted brilliantly to ensure Ireland were always at the right tempo through the chase, despite the early wickets and slow-ish start. For Zimbabwe, the efforts of Madande and Burl with the bat go in vain, but they did really well to take Zimbabwe to 165 after their top order crumbled.
19.4
4
Jongwe to Dockrell, FOUR runs
19.3
2
Jongwe to Dockrell, 2 runs
Dropped by sweeper cover! It's all happening! Dockrell slices a full delivery and his bottom hand comes off. Marumani runs in and slides forward to try and hold on but it pops out. Ireland get two
Dockrell on strike with six needed off four balls!
19.2
1
Jongwe to Delany, 1 run
Full toss outside off and Delany slaps it over the infield to the sweeper cover. He gets a single
19.1
W
Jongwe to Adair, OUT
Taken at long-on! This match is not over yet! It's full and Adair swings for the hills. It goes high in the air and seems to hang there for an eternity. Brian Bennett, just a yard or two inside the rope, grabs it reverse-cupped above head height and does well to not lose balance. And we are set for more late drama!
Mark Adair c Bennett b Jongwe 19 (13b 1x4 1x6 17m) SR: 146.15
Seven runs needed off the last over! Who will bowl it? It will be Luke Jongwe with the crucial one. Remember, he didn't bowl a single ball in the first game and now he is going to bowl probably the most important over of the game for Zimbabwe! Mark Adair on strike. Here we go!
end of over 198 runs
IRE: 159/5CRR: 8.36 • RRR: 7.00 • Need 7 runs from 6b
Mark Adair19 (12b 1x4 1x6)
George Dockrell10 (8b 1x4)
Richard Ngarava 4-0-33-2
Blessing Muzarabani 4-0-23-1
18.6
1
Ngarava to Adair, 1 run
Clipped away to deep midwicket and they settle for the single
18.5
1lb
Ngarava to Dockrell, 1 leg bye
Dug in short and it hits Dockrell on the shoulder as he tries to duck. The ball drops to his right and they sneak the leg bye. Burl checks if that should be allowed as a run but since it was evasive action, the run is given!
18.4
1
Ngarava to Adair, 1 run
Full on leg and Adair chips it wide of mid-on and gets a single as the fielder at cow corner stops the ball
18.3
1
Ngarava to Dockrell, 1 run
Full outside off and he drives it hard and straight to cover but Ireland get a quick single
18.2
1
Ngarava to Adair, 1 run
Dug in short on leg and Adair pulls to deep midwicket
18.1
1
Ngarava to Dockrell, 1 run
Pushed out to mid-off for a single
Varshini : "Mark Adair has sealed the deal and squared the series effectively with that towering 6" Hold your horses! He thought he won the game with that stunning catch in the last game, but how did that turn out?!
18.1
1w
Ngarava to Dockrell, 1 wide
And now a leg-side wide! 15 from 12 has become 13 from 12!
18.1
1w
Ngarava to Dockrell, 1 wide
And he starts off with a wide! And Ngarava falls over on the follow through. Looks to be okay to continue though
Ngarava to bowl the 19th with 15 needed
end of over 1810 runs
IRE: 151/5CRR: 8.38 • RRR: 7.50 • Need 15 runs from 12b
Mark Adair16 (9b 1x4 1x6)
George Dockrell8 (5b 1x4)
Blessing Muzarabani 4-0-23-1
Richard Ngarava 3-0-26-2
17.6
6
Muzarabani to Adair, SIX runs
Oh my days! Take a bow, Mark Adair, because that's a brilliant hit! It's too full and Adair clears his front leg and lofts it over long-on with seeming ease!
17.5
•
Muzarabani to Adair, no run
Banged in short outside off and Adair looks to cut. He checks with the umpire if that's too high but the umpires think it was legal
17.4
2
Muzarabani to Adair, 2 runs
Dug in short and he pulls between deep midwicket and long-on to get two more runs for Ireland
17.3
•
Muzarabani to Adair, no run
Slower short ball on off, Adair looked to back away and steer it past the keeper but the lack of pace means he doesn't connect
Ranjoo Jeet : "Ngarava picked up a wicket but more / equally important are the 2 boundaries scored by Ireland. It is definitely Ireland's game to lose"
17.2
1
Muzarabani to Dockrell, 1 run
Slower bouncer on off, Dockrell makes room and slaps it out to long-on
17.1
1
Muzarabani to Adair, 1 run
Eased to mid-off for a single
Luke: "This match seems to be poised for another last over finish considering Ireland lower firepower"
end of over 1712 runs • 1 wicket
IRE: 141/5CRR: 8.29 • RRR: 8.33 • Need 25 runs from 18b
George Dockrell7 (4b 1x4)
Mark Adair7 (4b 1x4)
Richard Ngarava 3-0-26-2
Luke Jongwe 3-0-23-0
16.6
4
Ngarava to Dockrell, FOUR runs
Oh what a shot! Ireland have managed to turn this into a good over, with 12 coming off it! This is banged in short and Dockrell nails the pull through midwicket and in the gap!
16.6
1w
Ngarava to Dockrell, 1 wide
Banged in short but down leg
Krithika : "8th consecutive T20I in which Richard Ngarava has taken atleast 2 wickets!!! Man with the (costliest metal on earth) arm!!!"
Language
English
Win Probability
IRE 100%
ZIMIRE100%50%100%
Over 20 • IRE 166/6
Mark Adair c Bennett b Jongwe 19 (13b 1x4 1x6 17m) SR: 146.15
Ireland won by 4 wickets (with 2 balls remaining)W
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