Ireland vs Zimbabwe as it happened: Joyce, Cusack star as Ireland win a thriller

Taylor: It the end, we just threw it a little bit. I think we have forgotten how to get over the line. Not clever cricket at crucial moments. Poor cricket. I don’t think we were hungry in the field and our energy levels were low. It is frustrating but I get out at the wrong time.

Ed Joyce, player of the match: We have a team with 3 spinners and 3 mediumpacers. So we have to field and bat really well. It was a par score. Cusack (4-32) has a cool head and I am glad he was bowling in the end. I had a lot of luck before 30-40, took a few chances and got away with it.

The Associate World Cup might be more fun to watch then the actual World Cup. The teams are truly well-matched.

WICKETTT!!!!! Ireland have won, Ireland have won, Ireland have won. Porterfield runs in and takes the catch. As they say in the commentary, ‘Heratbreak for Africa, Joy for Ireland.’ Zimbabwe are bowled out for 326.

Single off the second ball. Zimbabwe require another 6 runs with 1 wicket and 4 balls remaining. One six will do.

BOWLED!!! Well bowled by Cusack. Nice off-cutter and Chakabva’s hoick only goes back onto the stumps. Zim 325-9. Zimbabwe need another 7 runs with 1 wicket and 5 balls remaining.

After 49 overs, Zim 325-8. Mupariwa who? Mupariwa the one who hammered 19 runs off the penultimate over. He’s 19, he comes in cold and he hammers it all over the park. Zimbabwe require another 7 runs with 2 wickets and 6 balls remaining.

WICKET! Ireland are going to win this. ZIm 305-8. Panyangara went straight and straight to the fielder in the deep. He made 5.

WICKET!!! After 46.5 overs, Zim are 300-7. The first ball of the over was smacked for four by Chakabva and then another mix-up some Williams almost getting run out. But he survived, only to be caught two runs and two ball later on the boundary line. It was so close. Williams walked off but the decision was still being reviewed. Brilliant knock though — 102 (83b 7×4 3×6).

After 46 overs, Zimbabwe are 293-6. Steady stuff but they need a big 20-run over and Ireland needs Williams’ wicket. And they almost got a wicket — big mix-up in the middle and then they picked up three runs off the resulting over throw. 39 runs off 24 balls.

Zim 283-6 after 45 overs. Another big six in the last over. This is glorious batting by Williams — he is picking his spot and making every chance count. Zimbabwe need another 49 runs with 4 wickets and 30 balls remaining.

After 44 overs, Zimbabwe have moved on to 272-6. Williams, 80 off 73 balls, is the key to this chase. Zimbabwe need another 59 runs with 4 wickets and 36 balls remaining.

WICKET! Craig Ervine is gone. Walking back. He took a risk and hit it to short thirdman, the reverse sweep is not always a great idea. Zim 259-6. This makes things more difficult for the African side. McBrine was the bowler. Zimbabwe need another 73 runs with 4 wickets and 45 balls remaining.

78 off 54 balls. Williams (72 off 66) is making a match of this. Zim 254-5. Ireland seem to be getting a little nervous now. There are misfields creeping into their play. They need a wicket; they need Williams gone… now.

Zimbabwe need another 91 runs with 5 wickets and 60 balls remaining.

Zim 241-5 after 40 overs. Williams needs to stay there till the end. This has been a wonderful chase thus far despite the early wickets. 

If Zimbabwe win it would be –
Highest successful ODI chase by Zim
Highest WC chase by any team 
Highest ODI chase at Hobart

WICKET!!! Taylor falls after a magical 121 off 91 balls, 11 fours and 4 sixes. Cusask’s slower ball did the trick and the right-hander didn’t get enough distance on it. This wicket still leaves the rest of the batsmen with a lot to do. Partnership was worth 149 runs, 20.5 overs, RR: 7.15. Ireland 223-5.

End of 37th over, Zimbabwe 222/4. Taylor took Dockrell for 18 runs in the last over. Two sixes and a four. This is brilliant stuff.

100 off 79 balls, 10 fours, 2 sixes. What a knock by Taylor… Zimbabwe 200-4 after 35 overs. 132 runs needed from 90 balls. This is going down to the wire.

After 30 overs, Zimbabwe have advanced 164-4. Double it and we have a great match on our hands — Zimbabwe are not giving up but they need somone to get a big one. Taylor has 77 off 62 balls and is going to be key.

After 27 overs, Zim have reached 144-4. Sean Williams and Taylor have a solid partnership going (70 runs, 10.2 overs) and there are starting to look dangerous. This is not going to be easy though. The target is massive and it will take some getting.

OUT! Kevin O’Brien strikes in his first over. Full ball in the channel outside off and Masakadza goes for the big drive. Plays inside the line and gets a feather through to the keeper. Big wicket for Ireland.

H Masakadza c †Wilson b KJ O’Brien 5 (7b 0x4 0x6)

Zimbabwe are 41/3 after 10.3 overs.

OUT! Zimbabwe lose another. Wild slog from Chibhabha to a length ball outside off. He carves it high over point and the fielder runs back and takes a comfortable catch.

CJ Chibhabha c Porterfield b Cusack 18 (32b 3×4 0x6)

Zimbabwe are 32/2 after 8.4 overs.

OUT! Mooney strikes. Raza goes for an expansive drive. The ball isn’t full enough for the shot and he nicks it to the keeper.

Sikandar Raza c Stirling b Mooney 12 (19b 2×4 0x6)

After 7.4 overs, Zimbabwe are 32/1.

After 5 overs, Zimbabwe are 18/0

Unsurprisingly, Sikandar Raza and Chamu Chibhabha have come out of the blocks slowly. There’s no point going hammer and tongs early and losing wickets whe it is possible to make up some so much ground at the end of an innings.

And we are back for the chase.

Ireland end up with 331 for 8. Ffity runs came from the last five overs. A solid century for Joyce and an angonising near century for Balbirnie were the twin pillars around which Ireland’s innings was constructed. Zimbabwe have their work cut out for them to chase this down.

OUT! No hundred for Balbirnie. He punches the ball to deep extra-cover and desperately tries to get back for the second run and keep the strike but is run out by some distance. Even a full length dive cannot save him.

A Balbirnie run out 97 (79b 7×4 4×6)

Ireland are 326/8 after 49.1 overs.

Out! Ireland losing wickets in a heap. Niall O’Brien is the latest to go. Slashes a short ball to deep third man. Poor Balbirnie might be stranded in the 90s.

NJ O’Brien c Panyangara b Chatara 2 (4b 0x4 0x6)

Ireland are 322/7 after 48.4 overs. Balbirnie is on 95.

OUT! John Mooney came out, smashed a couple of boundaries, the missed a slog going for a third and lost his stumps.

JF Mooney b Williams 10 (4b 2×4 0x6)

Ireland are 320/6 afrer 48 overs. Balbirnie is still stuck on 94.

OUT! Gary Wilson’s cameo comes to an end. Flashed at a wide delivery and hit it straight to point.

GC Wilson c Chakabva b Williams 25 (13b 3×4 1×6)

Ireland are 308/5 after 47.2 overs. Balbirnie is on 94. Will he get to his hundred?

OUT! Kevin O’Brien doesn’t get going today. It is wide outside off and Kevin throws his bat at it. Makes contact with the bottom of the bat and skies the ball to long-on.

KJ O’Brien c Chakabva b Chatara 24 (22b 4×4 0x6)

Ireland are 275/4 after 44.2 overs, with Balbirnie on 91. Well placed to get over 300.

After 42 overs, Ireland are 239/3, with Bilbirnie on 66 and Kevin O’Brien on 14.

Kevin was given a life by the fielder at short cover when he mistimed a drive. The fielder had to dive forward but got both hands to it but couldn’t control the ball when he landed and it popped out of his hands. Sean Williams, the Zimbabwe captain, was not impressed.

Meanwhile Balbirnie has taken over the baton from Joyce and slog-swept Williams over deep midwicket for SIX! He is now scoring at faster than a run-a-ball.

OUT! Zimbabwe finally get their man. Joyce tried to swing a low full toss from Chatara to leg but was early on the shot and made contact only with the toe end of the bat. The ball looped gently to short midwicket. End of a fine innings that has set Ireland up very nicely.

EC Joyce c Ervine b Chatara 112 (103b 9×4 3×6)

Ireland are 217 for 3 after 38.4 overs.

HUNDRED for Joyce. He gets there with a pull to midwicket that yields two runs. Took him 96 balls and included eight fours and two sixes. He celebrates by lofting a low full over cover for four. Ireland are 198 for 2 after 37 overs, with Joyce on 105 and Balrbirnie on 37.

After 35 overs, Ireland are 179/2, with Joyce on 95 and Balbirnie on 38.

These two have now added an even 100 from 91 balls. Joyce has moved serenly into the 90s while Balbirnie has joined in the fun, lap sweeping Mazakadza over his left shoulder for four. Zimbabwe have no answer for these at the moment and the bowlers have lost the discipline they showed early in the innings.

After 30 overs, Ireland are 146/2, with Joyce on 81 and Balbirnie on 22

Ed Joyce has taken a shine to the Zimbabwe bowlers and moved Ireland into overdrive. He smashed Raza and Chatara over deep midwicket for sixes and has cut and driven with aplomb. Balbirnie hasn’t had to much beside hang around and give Joyce has much strike as possible. The partnership is now worth 67 and they have been going at a tick under 7 an over, turning what was a pedestrian innings into one with the promise of 300.

After 25 overs, Ireland are 109/2 with Joyce on 58 and Balbirnie on 9.

Ed Joyce got to his fifty by chipping down the track to Mazakadza and hammering him down the track for four. The shot also brought up Ireland’s 100. The scoring rate has accelerated significantly since Porterfield was dismissed – 30 runs have come from the five overs, compared to 15 from the previous five. Balbirnie has been the minor partner so far, with Joyce contributing 21 of the 30 runs they have put on together.

OUT! Porterfield’s agonising innings is over. He just couldn’t get out of first gear. He tried to hit Sean Williams over extra cover but got under the ball and scooped a catch to mid-off.

WTS Porterfield c Masakadza b Williams 29 (61b 1×4 0x6)

After 21 overs, Ireland are 84 for 2, with Joyce on 38 and Balbirnie on 4. Porterfield’s wicket will hopefully free Ireland up a bit.

After 15 oves, Ireland are 56/1 with Joyce on 22 and Porterfield on 22

Ireland have gone back into first gear. Just 15 runs scored from the last five overs. Tawanda Mupariwa and Sikandar Raza have come on and strangled the batsmen. Neither of them have given the batsmen any width and they have mixed up their lengths as well.

After 10 overs, Ireland are 41/1, with Joyce on 13 and Porterfield on 16

Ireland is slowly moving into second gear thanks to Joyce, whose strike-rate is more than double than that of Porterfield. Joyce has struck a couple of neat boundaries either side of the wicket. Porterfield has continued to focus on defending. That’s been the trend of this World Cup, though. Slow early on and then a whirlwind at the end.

After 5 overs, Ireland have advanced to 21-1. It’s been pretty normal cricket. An edge from Joyce, landed just short of the slips. But other than that, no major alarms.

In 32 ODIs at Hobart, the side batting first has won 18 times, the side batting second won 13 times.

WICKET! IRE 16-1. Stirling (10) hits it straight to backward point. Panyangara bowled it a bit wide and Stirling didn’t quite hit it as well as he would have liked. Didn’t place it very well either. Ed Joyce is the next man in.

After 2 overs, Ireland have advanced to 11-0. The Zimbabwe seamers haven’t got too much movement yet. It looks like a good batting track at the moment.

The match has begun. It is a little overcast and Zimbabwe’s bowlers may get something out of the wicket. The outfield is quick.

Zim XI: Taylor*+, Chibabha, Raza, Mire, Masakadza, Williams, Ervine. Chakabva, Mupieriwa, Payangara, Chatara

Ire XI: Porterfield*, Stirling, Joyce, N O’Brien, Balbirnie, K O’Brien, Wilson+, Mooney, Cusack, Dockrell, McBrine

Toss: Zimbabwe have won the toss and elected to bowl first.