IRE vs ZIM 4th T20I Commentary - Bready (02 September 2021)

Shout for a caught behind, the umpire shakes his head. Back of a length, around middle, Richard Ngarava tries to heave but it beats the inside half of his bat. The keeper appeals, the bowler is sure so he just runs to celebrate. Then, he turns and sees the umpire shaking his head. Maybe, the ball took some parts of Richard Ngarava's back thigh pad. 

On middle and leg, it's tucked behind square leg for a single.

Angles it in on a length, Luke heaves it down to long on for one.

FOUR! What a shot from Zimbabwe's number 11. Richard Ngarava fetches a length ball from outside off and heaves it over mid-wicket for a boundary.

FOUR! Richard Ngarava is having some fun. Young delivers it on a length and close to off, Richard Ngarava stays back and slaps it past point for another boundary.

Swing and a miss! It's on a length close to off, angling in, Ngarava tries to slog it across the line but misses. The ball goes very closely past the off pole. Craig Young has his hands on his head in disbelief as that missed the stumps by a whisker. Anyway, IRELAND WIN BY 64 RUNS!

Extra slower delivery, short and on middle, Jongwe waits for it and pulls it to deep square leg for a couple.

Into the blockhole now, Jongwe brings his bat down in time and squeezes it out through square leg. Another brace.

Fuller and on middle, flicked to deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs again.

Back of a length, on top of off, Luke punches it from the back foot to point.

Too full and close to off, Jongwe eases his drive through cover-point for a single.

Short and wide outside off, Richard plays a mistimed shot down to long off. A single to end the over. 100 up for Zimbabwe.

Outside off, on a length, played down to point.

OUR! The off stump is pegged back. Mark Adair has a 4-wicket haul. He spears it in, full and straight, Blessing Muzarabani is late in taking his bat down and the off stump is obliterated. Can Mark Adair pick the final wicket to complete his 5-fer?

Fuller and around off, from 'round the wicket for the left-hander, Ngarava lofts it over mid on for a single.

FOUR! Good shot from Jonge, late runs are irrelevant but he is showing his skills. Short in length and around off, Luke Jongwe stays on the back foot and pulls it to deep mid-wicket. George Dockrell moves across to his right but fails to stop it with a dive.

Yorker around off, Luke digs it out through cover-point for a single.

On a length and around off, Richard Ngarava stays back and taps it down in front of the keeper. No fifer for Mark Adair but he finishes with amazing bowling figures, 4-0-23-4.

Beaten all ends up! A lovely cutter from Craig Young, around off on a length, Jongwe pushes at it and misses.

The batsman has just blocked that from his crease.

Short and wide outside off, Jongwe cuts it from the back foot through cover-point for a single.

Fuller and quicker on middle, Blessing has his bat down in time as he keeps it out towards square leg. They cross for a single.

Serves it on a length around middle, Jongwe hangs on the back foot, opens the face of his bat and pushes it to point.

In the air... safe! Fuller and on off, Jongwe tries to play the aerial shot but gets more height than distance. It flies behind the bowler, Barry McCarthy rushes across to his right from long off but the ball drops safely. They take a couple of runs. 

Too full in length and outside off, Jongwe squeezes it out through cover-point for a single.

Serves it on a length and outside off, Blessing throws his bat at it but fails to connect.

Angles in a length ball from around off, Muzarabani stays back and defends it to the off side.

Bouncer, slower in pace, Blessing plays a controlled hook shot to deep backward square leg for a single.

FOUR! Slapped away! Slower one, short and wide outside off, Luke Jongwe picks it early, stays on the back foot and whacks it to the deep point fence.

Spears in a very full ball on middle, Jongwe eases it down to long on for a single.

Slightly short and on off, Jongwe stays back and helps it to mid-wicket.

Fuller in length and around off, Luke drives it straight to point. Stirling collects the ball and has an immediate shy at the bowler's end. Wellington Masakadza charges back in as Shane Getkate collects the throw.

Down the leg side, tucked down to square leg for a single.

OUT! Given lbw, Getkate has two now. That looked very adjacent to the naked eye. Full in length, around middle and leg, Wellington Masakadza fails to work it around and is pinged on the pads. The appeal is made and the umpire has no hesitation in lifting his finger. Dead plumb. Ireland are two wickets away from sealing the series.

Full and on middle, Blessing Muzarabani gets behind the line and defends it out to mid-wicket.

Fuller and straighter, Blessing Muzarabani defends it from the back foot.. 4-0-19-2, it's the end of Shane Getkate's brilliant bowling effort. 

Shortish and close to off, Masakadza punches it off his back foot to deep point for a run.

 Full and floated on middle, Ervine skips down the track and lofts it over mid on for a run.

Fires in a fuller one on off, Wellington sweeps it firmly to deep square leg for a single.

OUT! Ervine bites the dust and that's the last recognized batsman for Zimbabwe getting dismissed. Simi Singh tosses it up and lands it full around middle, Craig Ervine shimmies down the track for a big shot down the ground but fails to get enough behind it. The ball goes aerially to long on and Mark Adair takes it safely. Only formalities left in this match now.

Quicker and on middle, clipped towards square leg for a single.

Variation from Simi. A leg-break delivery, full and on middle, Luke knocks it down to long on for one. Simi Singh bowls out, 1/18 in his 4 overs.

FOUR! Fine shot! Fuller in length and on middle, Ervine swings his bat across the line and flicks it behind square leg for a boundary. First real shot of intent from the Zimbabwean skipper.

Fullish and on middle, Craig heaves it over mid-wicket and collects a single.

Too full and outside off, Donald jumps across the stumps, looking for a paddle scoop but the line is quite wide. He then adjusts and guides it to short third man for a run.

On a length and around leg, Ervine fails to flick and it goes off his pads to backward square leg. They take a leg bye.

OUT! Tiripano is stumped! Smart from Rock. Full in length and outside off, Donald Tiripano winds for a big heave across the line but fails to connect. Neil Rock collects the ball, waits for the batter to make some movement and as soon as Donald Tiripano drags his back leg out, he takes the bails off. He appeals and the square leg umpire has given it out.

A touch short and outside off, Wellington taps it down towards third man and takes a single. 

Flatter and fuller on off, defended back to the bowler.

Fullish and around off, Ervine moves back a bit and lofts it over extra cover for a run.

Bowls this one with a quicker-arm action. Flat and short on middle, Donald goes back and punches it to long off for a single.

Loopy and full around off, Ervine eases it to mid off and Simi runs behind it. The batters switch ends.

 Appeal for an lbw! Not given. Tossed up ball landing on middle, Tiripano tries to play the reverse sweep but misses. He is hit high on the back leg and it deflects towards third man. The batters cross and it's given as a leg bye.

Flatter one is fired on middle, Craig helps it gently to mid-wicket and picks another run.

 Serves it on a length around middle, it's flicked to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Beaten! Getkate delivers it on a length around off and gets it to straighten off the seam, Donald Tiripano pushes inside the line and misses.

A terrific yorker around middle and leg, Donald steps back and digs it out to the off side.

Around off on a good length, Tiripano punches it to cover-point and takes a quick run.

Fullish and on middle, Ervine hits it across the line through mid-wicket. Adair speeds in from the deep and keeps the batsmen down to one.

Almost edges it! Slightly short in length and outside off, Tiripano pushes at it and misses. There is no degree of urgency from Zimbabwe. It's looking more like a net session for these two batters.

Full and flighted on middle, Ervine runs down the track and flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Flatter and shorter on off, spinning in, Donald moves back and punches it to long on for a run.

Fires in a quicker one on off, fuller in length, Craig is forward in defense but it takes the inner half and rolls in the gap on the leg side. They cross.

Fullish and on off, driven to the left of the cover fielder for a single.

Loopy and full on middle, Craig uses his feet to come down the track and nudges it towards square leg for a run.

Play and a miss! Quicker one, landing full and going straight on, Tiripano tries to drive but it beats the outside edge. Zimbabwe are 53/5 at the halfway mark, 122 needed in the next 60 balls.

A length ball on middle, Ervine walks forward a bit and works it through square leg for a single.

Angling away from the batsman, on a length, it's punched through cover-point for a single.

Another delivery around off, leaving the batsman with the angle, Ervine guides it behind point for one.

Shortish around off, Shumba stays back and taps it down to backward point. Finds the fielder.

OUT! STUMPS ARE SHATTERED! Zimbabwe have now lost half their side. Excellent delivery from Barry McCarthy. He lands it on a good length around off and gets it to jag back in off the seam. Shumba plays all over it,  leaves a big hole in his defense and the ball sneaks through to send the bails flying. It's one-way traffic at the moment. 

Fuller and on middle, Donald flicks but finds mid-wicket. End of a successful over for Barry.

Flatter delivery, short and on off, Milton goes back and slaps it to deep cover for a run.

This time the length is fuller and the line is close to off, Ervine strides forward and drives it to long off for a single.

Fires it in, flat and short around off, Shumba goes deep inside the crease and strokes it to deep cover. Another run taken.

Quicker and fuller on off, Craig defends it back off his front foot.

Fuller and on off, forced back towards the bowler and Simi dived to his left to stop it.

A slider around off, skidding in, Ervine tries to defend but it collects the inside edge and goes towards short fine leg. A single is taken to end the over. The chase is going nowhere for Zimbabwe. 

On a length and around middle, Ervine helps it behind square leg and takes a single.

Another length delivery on the pads, this time Shumba works it in front of square leg and rotates the strike.

FOUR! Straight as an arrow! Fuller and on off, Ervine unfurls a lovely drive down the ground. It races away to the fence in a flash.

Wide! A touch short and down the leg side, Craig tries to flick but misses. A good take by Rock.

Very full and around off, a strong shot down the ground again from Ervine. This time towards long on for a single.

On a good length around middle, Milton flicks it gently to mid-wicket.

Aerial but safe! Fuller in length around off, holding up a bit off the surface, Shumba checks his drive and chips it in the air towards mid off. The fielder charges forward but it drops in front of him. They scamper across for a brisk run.

OUT! Wesley Madhevere is gone too. Young runs in and digs in a short ball around off, Wesley hangs back to pull but it takes the splice of his bat and flies to the right of mid on. Shane Getkate moves across to his right and completes the catch easily. All the wickets have fallen from this end so far.

Delivers it on a length and around middle, Milton brings his bat down and works it to square leg for a quick run.

Very full and outside off, Ervine opens the face of his bat and guides it to third man for a single.

Play and a miss! Short in length and outside off, angling away, Milton flirts inside the line and misses.

Pitches it up and around off, Shumba strokes it off his front foot to mid off.

Shortish and on off, Milton punches it off his back foot to covers. A dot ball to end the over and Zimbabwe have lost the plot very early.  32/4 at the end of the Powerplay.

Angles in a length ball on off, Wesley defends it from the back foot to mid-wicket.

 On a good length, around middle and leg, Madhevere turns inside the crease and works it to deep square leg for a single.

Superb effort by Adair. You cannot keep him out of action at the moment. Fuller in length and outside off, Ervine drives it through the line, looks to pierce the gap at extra cover but Adair dives to stop the ball.

FOUR! Up and over point! Barry McCarthy angles across a length ball outside off, Ervine flashes his bat at it and slices it over Simi Singh inside the ring. He puts in a jump but it just evades him and finds the fence.

Fuller and on middle, flicked on the leg side but straight to mid-wicket.

Pitches it up and around off, Ervine drives it off his front foot to mid off. Two dots to complete the 5th over, Zimbabwe are 30/3.

FOUR! Regis Chakabva has plundered that ball. Short in length and close to off, sitting up nicely, Regis stays back and plays a rocketing pull shot over mid-wicket for a boundary.

OUT! Strangled down the leg side. Adair gets his revenge immediately. Not a wicket-taking delivery though. It's on a length and drifting down the leg side, Regis Chakabva tries to flick but gets a feather touch on it. Neil Rock collects and appeals, the bowler joins him too and the finger has gone up. Regis Chakabva shakes his head as he returns. A body blow to the visiting team.

FOUR! Edgy! Mark Adair delivers it on a length close to off, shaping away, Dion Myers pushes inside the line and edges it down to third man for a boundary.

OUT! BOWLED! Hit him for a boundary and he will take his revenge immediately. A wonderful inswinging yorker, around leg, Myers fails to keep it out and finds his stumps rearranged. Zimbabwe staring down the barrel, 150 needed off 98 balls.

Angling away from the batsman, on a length, Ervine covers his stumps and shoulders arms.

Too full in length and on off, Ervine drives it with soft hands to mid off. End of a fantastic over by Adair, two wickets and a 8 runs from it.

Tucks a length ball off his pads to deep square leg for a single.

FOUR! First boundary of the chase. Fuller in length and on middle, Regis Chakabva whips it over mid-wicket and fetches a boundary.

 A near-yorker on middle, Regis digs it out at the last moment and crosses for a brisk run.

Shortish and on middle, it's helped to deep square leg for a single.

Around off on a length, Chakabva taps it down to backward point and Madhevere calls his partner through for a brisk run.

Very full and on off, Wesley drives it firmly but finds the extra cover fielder. 18 runs in 3 overs, a quiet start from Zimbabwe. 

OUT! A smart return catch. Very tame dismissal for Marumani. Mark Adair bowls from 'round the wicket and angles in a fuller delivery on middle, Tadiwanashe Marumani tries to work it on the leg side but gets a tame leading edge back to the bowler. Adair collects the catch easily and draws first blood.

Back of a length, around middle and leg, Regis Chakabva glances it to square leg and opens his account with a single.

Shout for an lbw, not given. Fuller in length around middle and leg, angling down, Wesley is early into his flick shot and misses. Missing leg and hence the appeal is not entertained.

Shortish and on off, it's turned through square leg for another single.

Angling in from around off, on a length, Regis tries to defend but gets an inside edge onto the pads.

Fires a full ball down the leg side, Chakabva tries to flick but misses. It goes off his pads to the keeper. A fine first over by Adair.

Wide! Starts with a length ball, down the leg side, Wesley Madhevere tries to flick but misses.

Short and around off, Wesley tries to pull but it bounces over his bat.

Back of a length on middle, Madhevere goes on his toes and taps it down on the leg side for a single.

Shortish and outside off, Tadiwanashe Marumani opens the face of his bat and guides it to third man for a run.

Digs in a short ball on middle, Wesley pulls it to deep square leg and rotates the strike.

On a length and around off, Marumani dabs it wide of backward point for a single. The third man fielder attacks the ball, fumbles and concedes the second run.

Short and wide outside off, Marumani again doesn't try to go hard and just helps it to third man for one. 7 from the opening over.