Zimbabwe bowling masterclass destroys Ireland

Zimbabwe served a masterclass in bowling as they chalked up a 107 run victory over Ireland in an ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018 tie at Harare Sports Club.

Scotland won toss and chose to field and it looked like a bad decision as Cephas Zhuwao smacked the second delivery of the match over and the famous Castle Corner which houses the Zimbabwe Cricket Supporters Association went wild.

Zhuwao freed his arms a few more times to get to 20 before he was caught deep with Zimbabwe on 21.

Solomon Mire and Hamilton Masakadza looked to bring back shades of a successful 2017 when they opened and were good for the 29 run partnership before the latter was out dancing down and stumped off Andy McBrine’s bowling. Masakadza was out next with the score still on 50.

A wobble was beckoning. And when Sean Williams was gone and Brendan Taylor seven runs later, it was not clear whether Zimbabwe would even reach 150. That was at 87-5.

But it was two crucial partnerships between Sikandar Raza and first Craig Ervine for 25 and Graeme Cremer for 27.

Enter Tendai Chisoro who probably just missed out on the player of the match because of Raza’s performance with the bat was generally technically fluent for his 21 before he got a bit to clever and was caught behind.

Blessing Muzarabani, the number 10 received a cheer for every ball he defended to give Raza the strike. And when Raza got it, he smacked one to cover and when Muzarabani tried to run past him, the former grabbed his hand and told him to return.

Raza blasted two sixes and single in the final over and Zimbabwe were 211/9 after 50 overs.

Tim Murtagh returned 3-36 from his 10 overs.

Ireland were pumped, feeling they had restricted Zimbabwe to a below-par score. Pundits called it competitive on a slow wicket.

But when Chisoro got William Porterfield for 4 and Andy Barlbinie fell to Jarvis for 2 the locals’ voices were in full force.

Wickets fell with stunning regularity and bar Paul Stirling who made 41 there was not much else to speak in terms of runs as the spinners tore through the Ireland batting completing some eye-watering catches.

Ireland were bowled out for 107.

Tendai Chisoro had figures of 3-22 and Cremer 3-18.

Said Raza:

We said we can’t let the country down, it was nothing short of a mriacle. I just wanted to make a partnership, said to Graeme Cremer if we get to 220 could be very good total on this wicket. Credit to Blessing Muzarabani for hanging around for last few overs. The credit goes to everyone, I get the trophy but this goes to everyone. We urged the crowd to come out in numbers and they’ve done that. It makes our heart get a lot bigger. They are the 12th man for us.

Next up for Zimbabwe is the big one is the West Indies at Harare Sports on Monday. The day before that Ireland and Scotland take each other on.

Scores in brief (Super Six)

Zimbabwe beat Ireland by 107 runs, Harare Sports Club

Zimbabwe 211-9, 50 overs (Sikandar Raza 69 not out, Brendan Taylor 25, Tendai Chisoro 21, Cephas Zhuwao 20; Craig Ervine 20; Tim Murtagh 3-36, Andrew McBrine 2-42)
Ireland 104 all out, 34.2 overs (Paul Stirling 41; Graeme Cremer 3-18, Tendai Chisoro 3-22)
Player of the Match – Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe)

Super Six points table

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