ZIM vs IRE 1st T20I Results

8:29 PM IST Right then, that’s it from this nail-biting game but there’s plenty more action remaining in this series. The second T20I of this 3-match series will be played at the same venue on Saturday, December 9th. That game will begin at 4.30 pm IST (11.00 am GMT). But as you know, you can always join us early for the build-up. Until then, goodbye and cheers!

8:26 PM IST The captain of Zimbabwe, Sikandar Raza is the Player of the Match for his all-round brilliance. He says that it was nice to be part of history and credits the fans for coming out to watch. Feels that Ireland got 5-10 runs too many but applauds the way Delany batted. Mentions that he was pretty happy to chase 148 at the halfway mark. Shares that the most important thing is that they got over the line and gave something for the fans to cheer. On his performance, he says that he is never a guy who looks into these things. Adds that there were a lot of other good contributions as well. On his animated chat with the Irish players, he says that what happens on the field, stays on the field. Adds that they shook hands and everything is fine.

8:23 PM IST Paul Stirling, the losing Ireland skipper is up for a chat. He says that it was a brilliant game and hoped that it entertained the spectators. Adds that they will assess and talk about what went wrong in the game. Shares that they lost wickets at crucial points and that they should have got over 160 easily. Mentions that they will speak in the dressing room and come out better in the next two games. Closes by saying that they kept picking wickets regularly but luads Sikandar Raza who played a brilliant knock and took the game away from them.

8:21 PM IST Time for the Post-Match Presentations...

8:17 PM IST Earlier in the game, Ireland posted a below-par score of 147 for 8. After putting into bat first, the Irish got off to a brilliant start courtesy of their skipper Stirling and Andy Balbirnie. The duo added 44 for the first wicket inside the first five overs and set the tone early. However, Zimbabwe came back nicely and kept picking wickets at regular intervals. The middle-order batters got starts but none of them could bat along the innings. Gareth Delany, batting at number 8, provided the flourish at the backend by taking 20 runs off the final over and took his side to a competitive total. Sikandar Raza was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 28 in his spell while Ngarava and Muzarabani chipped in with two each. Zimbabwe did well for most of the game and came out victorious in the end by just one wicket.

8:16 PM IST The Irish bowlers did not have a huge total to defend but they gave it their all with the ball and in the field. Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Craig Young, and Joshua Little all chipped in with two each while George Dockrell took the solitary wicket of Wesley Madhevere. Barry McCarthy had 9 runs to defend in the final over but a couple of poor balls and lapses in the field took the game away from the visitors. The Men in Green will hope to come back with a better effort in the upcoming games.