It was a dramatic last ball victory for Ireland in the ICC World Twenty Group B opener against Zimbabwe in Sylhet as a scrambled bye off the last ball got Ireland home by 3 wickets.
Update
A Man of the Match innings of 60 from Paul Stirling got Ireland off to the perfect start in their chase of Zimbabwe’s 163 for 5 but it was the most dramatic of finishes as Ireland dramatically collapsed at the end of their innings, despite needing just 7 runs to win off the last 13 balls it needed a scrambled last ball bye with a missed run-out to get Ireland home by the tighest of margins.
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Earlier, Ireland won the toss and bowled first in the first ever international match to be held at Sylhet stadium but Zimbabwe will be happy with their total of 163 for 5 from their 20 overs. An innings of 59 from Zimbabwe Captain Brendan Taylor held the innings together and he was well supported by a late cameo Chigumbura and some early hitting from opener Hamilton Masakadza.
For Ireland the spinners were outstanding, with Andy McBrine taking 2 for 26, George Dockrell taking 2 for 18 and Paul Stirling opening the bowling to finish with 0 for 24 giving the spinning threesome combined figures of 4 for 68 from their 12 overs, the seamers were a lot more cotsly however going at over 10 an over with Alex Cusack being particularly harshly treated and going for 53 from his 4 overs.
Still with a good looking pitch and not the biggest boundaries at the new stadium, Ireland will be hopeful of chasing down the total with the first six overs of powerplay looking certain to be key.
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Ireland XI: Porterfield*, Stirling, Joyce, Poynter, Wilson, K O’Brien, Thompson, Sorensen, Cusack, McBrine, Dockrell
Zimbabwe XI: Taylor*, Masakadza, Sibanda, Chigumbura, Maruma, Raza, Utseya, Panyangara, Williams, Chatara, Kamungozi
Cricket Ireland
The scene as Ireland scramble a last ball bye to win
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Connaught
