MAGHERAMASON – (Cricket news) Zimbabwe won a low-scoring thriller in the final men’s T20 International against Ireland on the last ball, but the hosts claimed a 3-2 series win.

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat, but didn't look comfortable from the off as Mark Adair continued his fine form with the ball. The pacer has developed a knack for picking up early wickets, striking with his second and first ball in his last two matches. Today he had to wait until his fourth delivery to earn a reward. Andrew Balbirnie claimed a good catch inside the 30 yard circle to see off Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, while a belter inswinging yorker was way too good for Regis Chakabva first up, striking the gloveman flush on the boot. Adair couldn’t convert the hat-trick opportunity, but Ireland were off to a fine start.

Despite the good start, Ireland could only claim two more wickets in the innings, but the tone had been set for a tight bowling display. Wessley Madhevere toiled through the powerplay for little while before top-edging Josh Little for a 19-ball nine, but Craig Ervine, at the other end, had begun what would end as the ultimate captain’s knock fluently. He hit both Adair and Little to the boundary before thumping Shane Getkate for 10 runs in two balls, driving him down the ground for four before smoking over deep midwicket for six.

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Ervine and Dion Myers built what was the game’s defining partnership, scoring 58 runs at almost a run a ball. While they hit just five boundaries, the partnership ensured Zimbabwe would at least have a chance to defend. Milton Shumba attempted some invention after Myers holed out off Adair to Little, flicking creatively over backward point for four, but Ireland bowlers gave them no room, conceding zero boundaries in the final two overs, and seemed to have the upper hand at the interval. Four of the five bowlers used conceded under a run a ball, including Andy McBrine, playing his first T20I since March 2017, but immediately getting to grips with the demands of the shortest format.

Zimbabwe battled back in reply, starting with perhaps the ball of the day from Player of the Match Luke Jongwe to trim Kevin O’Brien’s bails, a sharp off-cutter coming back between bat and pad. Balbirnie’s stay was a short one, worth just four before he edged Donald Tiripano behind, but a memorable one too, the captain overtaking William Porterfield into fourth place on the list of most men’s T20I runs for Ireland.

Paul Stirling, who would go on to be named Player of the Series, seemed to have carried on his same fluent form, smashing a pair of fours and a six in his 13-ball stay, but chipped Jongwe to cover to open the door for Zimbabwe. Harry Tector then edged to slip for nought as Ireland finished the powerplay four down.

William McClintock had hit the last two balls of the first six overs to the rope, to rapturous applause from the home crowd, but fell not long after, top-edging Richard Ngarava to Point. Then the fightback began in earnest, with Neil Rock and Getkate putting together Ireland’s biggest partnership of the day. Though it was worth only 36, in a tight game it felt crucial, and so nearly was. Rock was the early aggressor, chipping down the ground and then towards long-off, neither time attempting to overhit the ball. Getkate then got in on the act, smashing a slower ball back over Tripano’s head for six.

At 85-5, needing 40 runs from the last eight overs, the game seemed Ireland’s to lose, but Zimbabwe wrested back momentum, both set batsmen falling in quick succession. Wellington Masakadza trapped Getkate in front before Rock picked out a deep square leg off Jongwe. The next three overs passed without another wicket falling, but also without a boundary being scored, and as the required rate climbed, the pressure mounted. Eventually, McBrine looked for a big shot but found the fielder deep in the leg-side to give Tiripano a third.

When Adair was run out from the first ball of the penultimate over, the game seemed done. Ireland still needed 18 runs and had just one wicket in hand. But Craig Young and Little ensured one final twist, with Young striking six and a pair of twos to leave nine needed from the last. Little managed three off the first four, leaving Young requiring six off two, and then six off one. But it wasn’t to be. Ngarava held his nerve, and Zimbabwe were the victors.

Paul Stirling was named Player of the Series.

MATCH SUMMARY

Ireland Men v Zimbabwe Men, 5th T20I DafaNews Cup, Bready, 4 September 2021

Zimbabwe 124-2 (20 overs; C Ervine 67, D Myers 26; M Adair 3-23)

Ireland 119 (20 overs; N Rock 22, P Stirling 19; L Jongwe 3-29)

Zimbabwe won by 5 runs (Ireland won series 3-2)