he's done it! Ervine backs away, picks up the length quickly and flat-bats the ball straight down the ground. Mid on can't cut it off, and he gets four runs to win the game for his team and register his second ODI ton. Ervine raises his arms, and he's embraced by his captain
Zimbabwe vs Ireland, 2nd ODI at Harare, Oct 11 2015 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
2nd ODI, Harare, October 11, 2015, Ireland tour of Zimbabwe
New
ZIM
Full commentary
5:30pm: We hope you've enjoyed our coverage of today's match. Look out for the match report and a few quotes from Zimbabwe's match-winning batsman. These teams meet in the final ODI on Tuesday, and I'll be back to bring you ball-by-ball coverage of that match. Please join me again! Until then, this is Liam Brickhill saying goodbye.
5:23pm: Zimbabwe seal their first ODI series win for more than two years with a five wicket win at Harare Sports Club. The hosts didn't have the best day in the field, though the pitch was definitely better for batting than the track used in the first ODI had been. Ireland's 268 for 7, which was set up by Paul Stirling's quickfire 72 and Gary Wilson's equally energetic 65, looked a very challenging total, but Zimbabwe built their chase around Ervine's calm knock. He battled through some intense heat, pressure from the bowling, and the odd spell where his timing seemed to be failing to guide Zimbabwe to a morale-boosting series win - reaching a memorable hundred in the process.
And, unsurprisingly, Ervine is Man of the Match for his efforts
Wahid: "Century and win both are coming together. What a day for Craig Ervine!"
48.3
4
Mooney to Ervine, FOUR runs
Juice Card: "The fans are singing. They deserve it. They'll probably accept this series win as an apology from their team for all the heartbreaks they have taken them through over such a long period. A roller coaster of near misses."
48.2
•
Mooney to Ervine, no run
very full, and aimed right at middle stump. Ervine can only dig it out back down the pitch
48.1
1
Mooney to Chigumbura, 1 run
Chigumbura drives, but it's just to the left of mid off and the fielder cuts it off. Ervine calls him through for a single
Two slips in place now.
end of over 483 runs
ZIM: 265/5CRR: 5.52 • RRR: 2.00
Elton Chigumbura3 (5b)
Craig Ervine97 (120b 8x4 2x6)
Kevin O'Brien 10-0-46-2
John Mooney 8-0-43-1
47.6
1
K O'Brien to Chigumbura, 1 run
full, on his legs, and Elton keeps the strike with a glance to fine leg
47.5
1
K O'Brien to Ervine, 1 run
it's short, and pulled, and for a moment the crowd think that's his ton, but the fielder at fine leg stops it on the bounce
47.4
•
K O'Brien to Ervine, no run
a length delivery is driven into the covers, but without much timing
The field comes in for Ervine, a ring of four on the off side.
47.3
1
K O'Brien to Chigumbura, 1 run
a slower ball from O'Brien, and Chigumbura bends down low to sweep it to fine leg
Zimbabwe need seven to win, Ervine needs four for his ton
DanielAlexander: "11th October - This days is for Africa #WakaWaka "
47.2
•
K O'Brien to Chigumbura, no run
nudged into the leg side, but off the splice and there's no space for a single
There's a wide second slip in place.
47.1
•
K O'Brien to Chigumbura, no run
play and a miss outside off! Chigumbura was looking to guide this length delivery down to third man, but the ball zipped past him
Srihari: "I know Ervine will certainly take the win over any personal milestone, but I really hope he gets his second ton, for he richly deserves it for anchoring the chase perfectly."
end of over 4711 runs • 1 wicket
ZIM: 262/5CRR: 5.57 • RRR: 2.33
Craig Ervine96 (118b 8x4 2x6)
Elton Chigumbura1 (1b)
John Mooney 8-0-43-1
Kevin O'Brien 9-0-43-2
46.6
4
Mooney to Ervine, FOUR runs
four runs for Ervine! Mooney pulled his length back, but Ervine met the ball with a front-foot pull and picked the gap at wide long on to perfection
46.6
1w
Mooney to Ervine, 1 wide
gosh, this one has slipped out of Mooney's sweaty hand. It loops way down the leg side, a huge wide
46.5
•
Mooney to Ervine, no run
on a length, just outside off, and Ervine punches to point
46.4
1
Mooney to Chigumbura, 1 run
nd Chigumbura slices the ball up and over Wilson's head! The shot, to a wide ball outside off, was top edged and the ball flew well over the fielder, bouncing down to third man
46.3
W
Mooney to Raza, OUT
caught in the deep! Raza stepped back and targeted the leg side this time, picking up a length delivery. He hit the ball really well, but also placed it straight into the hands of the man at deep midwicket
Sikandar Raza c Joyce b Mooney 33 (29b 1x4 1x6 49m) SR: 113.79
46.2
4
Mooney to Raza, FOUR runs
Raza isn't holding back! He's a team man, and the team comes first. Mooney floated down a gentle half volley outside off, and Raza crunched an inside out drive over extra cover. One bounce, two bounces and four. Ervine better get a move on if he wants his ton
46.1
1
Mooney to Ervine, 1 run
Ervine steps back to shellack a length delivery out to deep cover, where the ball very nearly bounces up and over the fielder charging in from the rope. But he sticks out a hand to stop it, and they only take a single
Just 18 needed off four overs for Zimbabwe. There's surely no final twist in this story now. Another change, Mooney on from the Golf Course End.
end of over 469 runs
ZIM: 251/4CRR: 5.45 • RRR: 4.50
Sikandar Raza29 (27b 1x6)
Craig Ervine91 (115b 7x4 2x6)
Kevin O'Brien 9-0-43-2
Tim Murtagh 8-0-47-1
45.6
•
K O'Brien to Raza, no run
full outside off stump, and Raza drives to the cover fielder inside the ring
waheed khan: "match is in Zimbabwe pocket"
45.5
1
K O'Brien to Ervine, 1 run
O'Brien lands the ball on a length outside off, and Ervine swipes across the line to find a single to deep midwicket
45.4
•
K O'Brien to Ervine, no run
dabbed to cover point. Ervine wants a single, but there is none
45.4
1w
K O'Brien to Ervine, 1 wide
O'Brien arrows one down the leg side to add to the extras column
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