IRE vs ZIM 2nd T20I Commentary - Dublin (29 August 2021)

FOUR! Just 8 runs needed now! A length ball, on off. George Dockrell smashes it over the leaping cover fielder and the ball races away to the fence.

FOUR! Make it 4 runs now! A length ball, outside off. George Dockrell slashes it over covers for a boundary.

FOUR! Edgy runs! A short ball, outside off. George Dockrell makes room and looks to heave it on the off side. But gets a thick outside edge to third man for a boundary. Ireland win by 7 wickets.

A length ball, on off. George Dockrell pushes uppishly to short mid-wicket. 

 A full ball, outside off, dragged to mid-wicket for a single.

 A pacy short ball, outside off. Harry Tector looks to pull it but misses it. The keeper collects and appeals for it straightaway but the umpire is unmoved. 

A full ball, on off, eased down to long off for a single.

 A full ball, angling on middle, George Dockrell flicks it to deep mid-wicket. The fielder there runs to his left, dives and does well to save a couple of runs. 

A length ball, on off, driven to covers for a single. 12 needed in 12 balls.

Short of a length, outside off. George Dockrell swings and misses.

On a length, on off, tapped to third man for a single.

 A length ball, outside off, Harry Tector punches off the back foot to deep point where the fielder fumbles and allows two runs.

A short-of-a-length ball, outside off. Harry Tector steps down and then ducks under it.

A full ball, on off, driven through covers for one.

 A full ball, on off, George Dockrell shuffles across and pushes it to point for a quick single. 17 needed in 18 balls.

 A length ball, outside off, chopped to third man for a single.

On a length, outside off. Kevin O'Brien looks to slash but gets a thick outside edge to third man for another single.

 A full ball, outside off, George Dockrell opens his bat's face and guides it to third man for a single.

OUT! TAKEN! Is there a late twist in this game? A full ball, outside off. Kevin O'Brien stays back and looks to drive it uppishly but does not get the required elevation. Hits it straight to covers, where Milton Shumba takes a simple regulation catch.

On a length on middle, worked on the leg side for a single.

A length ball, outside off. George Dockrell punches off the back foot to covers for a single. 22 needed in 24 balls.

FOUR! Tossed up, outside off. Kevin O'Brien carves it to the point fence. This is brilliant batting by the veteran.

Loopy ball, outside off. Kevin O'Brien misses the drive.

Flatter ball, around off. Worked to the leg side for one.

FOUR BYES! Tossed up, outside off. George Dockrell goes for the drive but misses. The keeper misses and the ball runs to the fence.

Shorter ball, outside off. George Dockrell stays back and works it to point.

Shorter ball, outside off. George Dockrell cuts it past covers for one.

SIX! A great way to bring up his 50! Loopy ball, on off. Kevin O'Brien smacks it over covers for a maximum.

Darted on the pads. Kevin O'Brien gets hit on the pads while looking to paddle.

Flatter ball, on leg. Tucked to the leg side for one.

Loopy ball, on leg. George Dockrell works it to the leg side for one.

Loopy ball, outside off. Kevin O'Brien chips it to deep cover. The throw comes in and Wellington Masakadza fumbles. So the Irish take an overthrow too. So, three in total.

Flatter ball, on off. Blocked out.

WIDE! A short-of-a-length ball, down the leg side. George Dockrell misses his pull.

Around off, on a length, Dockrell knocks it to point for a single.

A short ball, on middle. Kevin O'Brien gets on top of the bounce and pulls it to mid-wicket for a single.

A short of a length ball, on off. George Dockrell dabs it late to third man for a brace.

A full toss, on off. George Dockrell drives it to sweeper cover. The fielder fumbles and allows a couple of runs.

A full ball, on off, pushed to covers.

A slower ball, on a length, on middle. George Dockrell clips it to mid-wicket and takes another couple of runs. 48 needed in 42 balls.

 FOUR! Well played! A full toss, on off. Kevin O'Brien smashes it through covers for a boundary.

 A short ball, angling on middle. Kevin O'Brien makes room and cuts it to sweeper cover for a brace.

 Another short ball, outside off, cut away to deep point for a couple of runs. Good running between the wickets.

A full ball, on off, pushed through covers for a single.

A flatter ball, outside off. George Dockrell dabs it to short third man for a single.

FOUR! Kevin O'Brien moves to 43. Shumba spills it down the leg side. Kevin O'Brien paddles it past short fine leg for a boundary.

Flatter ball, around off. Pushed away by Kevin O'Brien for one.

OUT! BOWLED! That is a big wicket for Zimbabwe! Andy Balbirnie would be disappointed with that. Tossed up, outside off. Andy Balbirnie goes for the drive but gets the inside edge back onto the stumps. George Dockrell walks out to bat.

Flatter ball, around off. Pushed past covers for one.

Flatter ball, on off. Tucked to the leg side for one.

Full ball, way outside off. Wide called.

Flatter ball, on off. Pushed away for one.

Loopy ball, on off. Pushed past covers for one.

Flatter ball, around off. Pushed to point.

DROPPED! Tossed up, on off. Kevin O'Brien chips it back to the bowler. Shumba dives his left but drops.

A full ball, on middle. Kevin O'Brien nudges it wide of mid on and takes a couple of runs.

A flatter ball, outside off. Kevin O'Brien cuts it to point.

FOUR! Good shot! A short ball, on middle. Kevin O'Brien shuffles across and pulls it past short fine leg for a boundary.

Flatter ball, on off. Pushed away for a single.

 Very full, on middle, flicked to deep square leg for a single.

Tossed up on middle, Andy Balbirnie looks to cut but gets an inside edge to the leg side. A single taken.

 In the air, but safe! A flatter ball, on off. lofts it off the toe end of his bat to the vacant long off region. The fielder from long on runs across and collects it. A single taken.

A full ball, on off, pushed to covers.

A flatter ball, outside off. Andy Balbirnie keeps it out.

A full ball, on off. Andy Balbirnie looks to drive on the off side but gets an inside edge to the leg side.

A flatter ball, on off, pushed to point.

Darted on the pads, this is flicked to square leg for a single.

A short ball, outside off. Kevin O'Brien cuts it to deep point for a single. 

Around off, a length ball. Andy Balbirnie punches off the back foot to covers for a single.

On middle, pushed back to the bowler.

A loopy ball, on off, driven down to long off for a single.

SIX! BANG! A short ball, angling on the pads. Stirling stays back and pulls it to square leg for a flat six.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Paul Stirling was playing so nicely but has to walk back disappointed. A flatter ball, outside off. Paul Stirling waits for it and then looks to steer it down to third man but manages an inside edge to the keeper. Regis Chakabva takes it with ease.

A full ball, on middle. Blocked out.

Around off, a full ball, pushed to sweeper cover for a single.

A loopy ball, on off. Kevin O'Brien pushes it down to long off for a single.

Very full, on off, driven through covers for one more. 91 needed in 78 balls.

 A length ball, on off, dabbed to point.

FOUR! Muscled! A length ball, on middle. Kevin O'Brien stands tall and heaves it to mid-wicket for a boundary.

On middle, on a length. Tucked on the leg side for a quick single.

Full toss, on off, pushed to covers.

FOUR! Beautiful shot! Pitched up, outside off. Paul Stirling lofts it over covers and the ball races away to the fence.

A length ball, on middle, flicked to square leg for one. End of the Powerplay, Ireland are 53/0.

A sharp short one, outside off. Stirling leaves it.

SIX! That is smoked by Paul Stirling! On a length, on off. He comes down the track and heaves it straight down the ground for a maximum.

Full ball, on leg. Pushed to long on for one.

FOUR! That is a valiant effort by the fielder. Length ball, on off. Kevin O'Brien chips it over mid off. The fielder runs back and dives and gets a hand to it. But the ball pops out and runs to the fence.

Shorter ball, on off. Pulled to deep square leg for a single.

On a length, around off. Pushed to covers.

FOUR! Smacked! Length ball, outside off. Paul Stirling rocks back and cuts it over covers for a boundary.

On a length, around off. Blocked out.

A length ball, on middle. Defended out.

A length ball, outside off. Stirling looks to dab it late but misses.

Around off, on a length. Stirling taps it to covers.

Full ball, on middle, this is flicked to square leg for a single.

Short ball, on leg. Worked to fine leg. No ball called as Richard Ngarava has overstepped. Free Hit coming up.

Fuller ball, on off. Blocked back to the bowler. But hold on, Richard Ngarava has overstepped so the Free Hit continues!

FOUR! Over the keeper! Short ball, on off. Paul Stirling gets the top edge while looking to pull. The ball goes over the keeper for a boundary.

Great effort in the deep! Full ball, wide outside off. Stirling gets the outside edge while looking to heave. The ball goes towards third man. The fielder runs across and dives to keep it to one.

FOUR! Nicely done! Length ball, outside off. Kevin O'Brien carves it over covers for a boundary.

Shorter ball, outside off. Kevin O'Brien misses the pull.

Length ball, on off. Kevin O'Brien gets the inside edge back on the pads.

Back of a length, on off. Pushed to point.

Flatter ball, outside off. Paul Stirling misses the cut.

Flatter ball, on off. Blocked out.

FOUR! Nicely done! Paul Stirling comes down the track and lifts it over mid off for a boundary.

Loopy ball, on off. Blocked out.

Shorter ball, outside off. Cut away to point.

FIVE WIDES! Free runs for Ireland! Flatter ball, down the leg side. Stirling misses and even the keeper cannot stop it. The ball runs to the fence.

Loopy ball, on off. Blocked out.

Length ball, on off. Pushed to covers.

FOUR! A short of a length ball, on middle. Paul Stirling shuffles across and flicks it fine to the fine leg fence for a boundary.

On middle, on a length. Defended.

Short ball, on the body. Stirling looks to block but gets hit on the body.

Length ball, around off. Paul Stirling taps it to covers for one.

Length ball, on leg. Kevin O'Brien gets hit on the hand as he looks to block it out. The physio is called out in the middle.