ICC World Twenty20: Ireland vs Zimbabwe - As it happened...

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Live updates from the third match of 2014 ICC World Twenty20, between Ireland and Zimbabwe being played at Sylhet Stadium, Sylhet. Zee Media Bureau/Jayanta Oinam SCORECARD» | COMMENTARY» | AS IT HAPPENED» ============================================================== Ireland Innings Over 20 || Score 162/7 Ireland won the match by three wickets, in the last ball... thanks to some chaos and a bye =================================================== Over 19.4 || Score 192/7 Another wicket and there is a distinct possibility of the match ending in the fielding team's favour. Two wickets in two balls. Two balls, two runs Max Sorensen run out 0 (1b) =================================================== Over 19.3 || Score 192/6 That's some bowling at the end. An inswinging yorker from the 28-year-old castles the former England batsman's stumps. Some more drama? With three balls left and two runs required Ed Joyce b Tinashe Panyangara 22 (28b ) =================================================== Over 17.6 || Score 157/5 The young-old bowler, Tinashe Panyangara is keeping Zimbabwe's chances alive with yet another wicket. The dangerous Kevin O'Brien departs after playing a little explosive innings, not to forget the two boundaries and one six he has creamed from Panyangara in the 18th over, before he holed out at long-off. Kevin O'Brien c Sean Williams b Tinashe Panyangara 17 (10b) =================================================== Over 17 || Score 141/4 This is T20 at its best. 23 runs required from 18 balls with four wickets gone. A couple of wickets or a couple of lusty hits, that's the equation. The match, err the T20 tournament has just started... =================================================== Over 14.6 || Score 129/4 Well well, the match is still alive. Another wicket. Two wickets in one over for Panyangara. Gary Wilson's second-ball duck has made things bad from worse for the batting side. Credit should be given to the Zimbabwean skipper for attacking in this situation, despite having so little runs to defend. Hamilton Masakadza took a cool catch at slip. Gary Wilson c Hamilton Masakadza b Tinashe Panyangara 0 (2b) =================================================== Over 14.4 || Score 129/3 Tinashe Panyangara breaks the growing partnership between Ed Joyce and Andrew Poynter, thanks to an Elton Chigumbura effort at mid-wicket. After initial confusion and some delay, the catch was declared valid and thus Zimbabweans received the much needed respite. Andrew Poynter c Elton Chigumbura b Tinashe Panyangara 23 (15b) Ireland still need 35 runs from 32 runs. =================================================== Over 10.3 || Score 100/2 Another wicket, this time the dangerous Stirling – who was stirring the Ireland innings towards a sure victory. However, as they say, the match is still alive. Paul Stirling c Sikandar Raza b Tendai Chatara 60 (34b) Stirling departs after toying with the Zimbabwean bowlers for 10 overs. In his 34-ball innings, the 23-year-old right-handed batsman hit nine boundaries and one six. =================================================== Over 8.2 || Score 80/1 Finally, a wicket for Zimbabwe. Sean Williams gets the better of Irish skipper, William Porterfield – who was carting all the bowlers, thanks to a mistime, miscue shot. An athletic Timycen Maruma takes the catch at deep mid-wicket. Some joy! William Porterfield c Timycen Maruma b Sean Williams 31 (23b) Poterfield, in his 23-ball stay hit one six and three fours. Possibly, a captain's knock considering his opening stand with Paul Stirling had laid the foundation for the team... =================================================== Over 5 || Score 43/0 Chasing 164 to win, Ireland are off to a superb start. In the first overs, they have accumulated 43 runs, more than eight runs an over. Just the start doctor ordered for the team. They still need 121 runs from 90 balls. Now, it seems the Zimbabweans will need more than good bowling to get into the match. =================================================== Innings Break =================================================== Zimbabwe Innings Over 20 || Score 163/5 A 32-run sixth wicket partnership propelled Zimbabwe to 163. In the last five overs of the innings, they have scored 48 runs with the loss of one wicket to set up a challenging total for Ireland. For Ireland, George Dockrell and Andy McBrine returned with two wickets each. Alex Cusack got the remaining wicket. =================================================== Over 16.6 || Score 131/5 Taylor departs trying to increase the run rate. Ed Joyce takes a well-judged catch at deep extra cover. George Dockrell has once again done the trick. Brendan Taylor c Ed Joyce b George Dockrell 59 (46b) =================================================== Over 16.2 || Score 120/4 Fifty for Brendan Taylor. The skipper is playing a gem of an innings here in Sylhet. He is taking into the fearless Irish attack alone. Fifty coming of 38 balls. He reached his personal mini-milestone hitting a boundary off the second ball of 16th over. =================================================== Over 14.3 || Score 111/4 Sibanda's stay in the centre comes to an end playing a tepid pull shot. It seems, Zimbabwean batsmen are thinking of giving catching practice to the Irish fielders. A rather soft dismissal for a batsman coming into consolidate the innings. Vusi Sibanda c Max Sorensen b George Dockrell 16 (18b) =================================================== Over12.1 || Score 100/3 73 balls, and 100 up for Zimbabwe Zimbabwean skipper, Brendan Taylor, has quickly reached into the 30s with the help of two sixes and three boundaries. In his company, Sibanda is playing safe -- pushing for easy singles. =================================================== Over 8.5 || Score 78/3 Andy strikes again. The 20-year-old bowler showed maturity and delivered a wide delivery for the wicket-keeper to effect the stumping. Sean Williams st Gary Wilson b Andy McBrine 16 (9b ) =================================================== Over 6.2 || Score 56/2 Good bowling change from the Irish skipper. In the 6th over, William Porterfield brings on Andy McBrine looking to break this growing partnership. And the young off-break bowler didn't disappoint his skipper. The skipper himself involved in the action, taking the catch at short mid-wicket. Hamilton Masakadza c William Porterfield b Andy McBrine 21 (17b) For the batting side, Masakadza was in the midst of a good period, scoring runs freely with his skipper at the other end. =================================================== Over 5 || Score 41/1 So far, it has been a evenly contested affair. But at times, thanks to some power hitting from the Zimbabweans, it seems the batting side has gained the advantage despite the loss of an early wicket. =================================================== Over 1.5 || Score 14/1 After a brisk start, Zimbabwe lost opener Sikandar Raza to a poor shot. Raza, after hitting two successive boundaries off the first two balls of the over, tried to lift the fifth one too, but ended up offering a catch at mid-on. Sorensen jumps and plucked the catch and wicket. Sikandar Raza c Max Sorensen bAlex Cusack 10 (8b) =================================================== Here are the teams: Ireland: William Porterfield (capt.), Kevin O'Brien, Max Sorensen, Alex Cusack, Paul Stirling, Ed Joyce, Gary Wilson (wk), George Dockrell, Stuart Thompson, Andy McBrine, Andrew Poynter Zimbabwe: Brendan Taylor (capt. & wk), Hamilton Masakadza, Vusi Sibanda, Elton Chigumbura, Timycen Maruma, Sikandar Raza, Prosper Utseya, Tinashe Panyangara, Sean Williams, Tendai Chatara, Tafadzwa Kamungozi =================================================== Toss: William Porterfield has won the toss, and have invited Zimbabweans to bat first in Sylhet. ============================================================== Sylhet: After opening day`s two lopsided matches, the match-up between Ireland and Zimbabwe is expected to enliven the tournament. For Ireland, `status` is only an alibi. Under the able-leadership of Willian Porterfield, Ireland have defeated some of the top teams, well some Full Membership teams. Latest in their list is West Indies, the defending champions in this competition. Gifted with talented players, of course, resulting form their close affinity with England – where cricket is believed to be originated, Ireland have been doing much better than some of the Test teams. And the team has been playing some exhilarating cricket for some time. In contrast, Zimbabwean cricket has failed to live up to the expectations. In fact, despite all the help and assistance from the cricketing world, they continue to slump. Coupled with myriad of regnant non-cricketing issues in the African country and poor on-field performances, their image has been tampered for no good. However, with the arrival of new players; all hungry and gung-ho, they can still play to the standard of a Full Member team. When these two teams meet in the brand new Sylhet Stadium for their Group B fixture, the stakes will ever be higher – for any slip-up in the game could well spoil their campaign. Because, only the group winner will progress to the Super 10. The Netherlands and United Arab Emirates are the other two teams in the group. ===================================================