ZIM vs IRE Live Score

4:04 PM IST Ryan Burl is the player of the match for his amazing knock. He says that it is one of those games that they needed to get over the line. Adds that after the rains, they knew they had to go behind the bowlers. Ends by saying that they will look to improve in the coming games and they are happy to win this one.

4:03 PM IST Craig Ervine, the skipper of Zimbabwe says that it seems that every time they play the Irish it is always a close game. Tells that the wicket was sticky early on and feels that Andy Balbirnie and Harry Tector batted well and the wicket got better later on. Tells that they drop their energies in the middle overs with the ball and they dropped some half-chances but credits Irish batters. Mentions that Chatara needed a rest in this game and he will be back going ahead in the series.

4:01 PM IST Ervine won an important toss and decided to bowl to make use of some bowler-friendly overcast conditions. They did start well and got two Irish openers early but Ireland still managed to get a big total as the home team failed to get wickets in the middle overs. In reply, Zimbabwean openers could not make much of an impact and Ervine and Ballance too departed after getting good starts. However, Raza and Burl, two in-form allrounders counter-attacked and kept Zimbabwe in the hunt. The rain though threatened to take the game away from Zimbabwe but it stopped at the right time and with 39 needed off 22 balls, Zimbabwe were in with a sniff. They lost Raza on the second ball after the resumption but Burl continued his superb strokeplay and smashed 59 off 41 balls to take the game to the last over. Clive Madande then showed the nerves of steel to seal the game for the home side.

3:59 PM IST Right then, that is all we have from this cracker of a game! Zimbabwe go 1-0 up in the series and they would be looking to seal this three-match ODI series in the second ODI. Ireland, on the other hand, need to win the second game to level the series and take it to the decider. So, it is all to play for and the second ODI will be played on Saturday, 21st of January and the action will start at 12.45 pm IST (7.15 am GMT). Do, join us for the build-up. Cheers!

3:55 PM IST Paul Stirling, the stand-in skipper of Ireland, says that they had great games so far in Zimbabwe. Adds that they started off by settling in with the bat and got a good score. Says that it was a great game but the rain had its part. Ends by saying that they will come back stronger in the next game.

3:53 PM IST Time for the Presentation ...