Tag: Zimbabwe

Andy Balbirnie struck an unbeaten 82 as Ireland beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets in Harare on Sunday to seal a 2-0 ODI series victory.

Needing 201 runs to win a match reduced to 40 overs a side because of rain, the tourists lost captain Paul Stirling with just 12 on the scoreboard.

But Balbirnie shook off recent indifferent form to create partnerships of 70 with Curtis Campher (40) and 63 with Harry Tector (33) to take the match away from the hosts.

Balbirnie patiently built his innings, compiling a total including a six and four fours off 102 balls.

“I think if you bide your time, you will get some luck. Sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it does not,” said the right-hand batter.

“It was good to be out there at the end on a challenging wicket. I knew if I set myself up for the back end, I would do well.”

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The match-winning runs, a four from wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker, came with 13 balls to spare as Ireland reached 204-3 at Harare Sports Club.

Zimbabwe made 197, thanks mainly to Joylord Gumbie (72) and back-in-form Sikandar Raza (37), while Graham Hume and Campher took four wickets each for the Irish.

Ireland missed Josh Little, the six-wicket star of their win on Friday, as he picked up a niggling injury.

The tour marked an impressive start to the captaincy of Stirling as Ireland also won the preceding three-match Twenty20 series. The first ODI was abandoned due to rain.

“I think we saved our best performance for the last match. I am so happy for the lads. We have worked hard recently and it was good to be rewarded,” said the skipper.

Ireland came to the southern African country never having won a series there — then succeeded twice within eight days.

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Uganda have ensured a top-two finish in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Region Qualifier and booked their tickets for the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the USA, while Zimbabwe failed to qualify for their second consecutive ICC event.

This will be their first-ever appearance in an ICC World Cup event as they will become only the fifth African nation to feature in T20 World Cup.

During the T20 World Cup Africa Region Qualifiers, Uganda overcame Tanzania in their opening game by a comfortable margin of eight wickets.

However, in the next game, a brilliant 4/17 from Namibian all-rounder David Wiese handed them a six-wicket defeat.

Presenting the 2⃣0⃣ teams that will battle for ICC Men's #T20WorldCup 2024 🏆

✍: https://t.co/9E00AzjcRN pic.twitter.com/1nu50LOLWQ

— ICC (@ICC) November 30, 2023

The African side made a comeback in grand style in the next game, defeating the Test-playing Zimbabwe by five wickets.

While skipper Sikandar Raza’s 48* starred for his side, Uganda’s bowling effort led by Dinesh Nakrani (3/14), restricted the Chevrons to 136/7.

During the chase, the Cricket Cranes were guided by Riazat Ali Shah (42) and Alpesh Ramjani (40). They won with five wickets to spare in a major cricketing upset.

Lifted by this effort, the side then overcame Nigeria with ease. They followed up with a 33-run win over Kenya, to have one foot into the T20 World Cup.

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They ensured the same with a comfortable nine-wicket win over Rwanda. They rendered a top-notch bowling effort, which bowled out Rwanda for merely 65.

The target was then chased down by the ninth over mark.

On the other hand, Zimbabwe, who suffered losses at the hands of Namibia and Uganda, missed out on the bus to the T20 event.

The side had featured in the previous edition of the tournament, where they’d garnered a famous one-run win over Pakistan.

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Uganda stunned Zimbabwe to register a historic upset victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Region Qualifier at United Ground in Windhoek, Namibia.

This was Uganda’s first match against a Test-playing nation and they claimed a historic five-wicket victory against a better-ranked Zimbabwe in ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings.

Uganda earned two points and moved up to third place on the points table of the ICC T20 World Cup Africa Region Qualifier.

During the match, Uganda won the toss and invited Zimbabwe to bat first, who scored 136 runs at the loss of seven wickets in their accumulated 20 overs.

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza top scored with 48 runs from 39 balls, with the help of two boundaries and four sixes.

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Uganda’s Dinesh Nakrani returned with impressive bowling figures of 3/14, while Henry Ssenyondo picked two wickets.

In response, Uganda lost two early wickets but they chased the target in the final over after losing five wickets, courtesy of Riazat Ali Shah and Alpesh Ramjani’s half-centuries.

Riazat Ali Shah scored 28-ball 42, featuring five boundaries and one six, while Alpesh Ramjani scored 40 off 26 with the help of four boundaries and two sixes.

Richard Ngarava picked two wickets for Zimbabwe conceding 24 runs from his four overs.

Notably, Namibia is leading the seven-team points table in the ICC T20 World Cup Africa Region Qualifiers, followed by Kenya, while Zimbabwe are placed fourth with only two points.

The top two teams will qualify for the T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to take place in the United States of America and West Indies in June next year.

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DUBLIN: Cricket Ireland on Wednesday, unveiled separate ODI and T20I squads, under the leadership of Paul Stirling, for their upcoming white-ball tour to Zimbabwe.

According to the details, the contingent, which will be led by Paul Stirling, will depart on December 1 and will play three T20Is and as many ODIs.

This will be the first tour led by Paul Stirling since his permanent appointment as white-ball captain.

He has previously captained the side 22 times in an interim capacity.

Before the squad’s departure to Zimbabwe, the players will participate in a five-day training camp, which will be held in Spain from 19-23 November.

Ireland Men’s national selector Andrew White is eager to see how the new set of players evolve under a new leadership.

“This is the first outing for the Men’s squad since the ODI series in England in September. This tour marks the start of a new cycle under a new leadership set-up, and we’re looking forward to seeing how this playing group evolves as it builds towards the next 50-over World Cup.

“However, before we get to that stage there will be two T20 World Cups to plan and prepare for, and this tour is core to our preparations for the T20 World Cup next June.

“We showed the world what we were capable of at the last T20 World Cup, but with the talent and potential within this playing group, there is a belief we can push on and achieve even more.”

Ireland Men’s T20I squad
Paul Stirling (Capt), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Josh Little, Graham Hume, Barry McCarthy, Neil Rock, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Theo van Woerkom, Craig Young.

Ireland Men’s ODI squad
Paul Stirling (Capt), Mark Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Josh Little, Graham Hume, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Neil Rock, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Theo van Woerkom, Craig Young.

Tour Itinerary:

7 December: Zimbabwe v Ireland – 1st T20I (Harare)
9 December: Zimbabwe v Ireland – 2nd T20I (Harare)
10 December: Zimbabwe v Ireland – 3rd T20I (Harare)
13 December: Zimbabwe v Ireland – 1st ODI (Harare)
15 December: Zimbabwe v Ireland – 2nd ODI (Harare)
17 December: Zimbabwe v Ireland – 3rd ODI (Harare)

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Hours after announcing Zimbabwe cricketer Heath Streak’s death on X (formerly Twitter), his former teammate Henry Olonga said in a second post that the legend is alive.

Olonga said in his new post that “rumours of Streak’s death were greatly exaggerated” and that he had heard from him.

In the conversation, Heath Streak affirmed that he is “alive and well” and politely asked Henry to remove the earlier update regarding his supposed demise.

https://twitter.com/henryolonga/status/1694212344732357101

Earlier taking to X, Oleaga wrote: “Sad news coming through that Heath Streak has crossed to the other side. RIP Zimbabwe cricket legend.”

“The greatest all-rounder we produced. It was a pleasure playing with you.”

The all-rounder is the all-time leading test wicket-taker for his country. He took 216 wickets and scored 1,990 runs in 65 tests between 1993-2005. He also played in 189 one-day internationals, scoring 2,943 runs and taking 239 wickets.

Heath Streak has also served as the head coach of Zimbabwe, as well as the bowling coach of Bangladesh and two-time Indian Premier League (IPL) winners Kolkata Knight Riders.

In 2021 he was given an eight-year ban from the sport after admitting breaches of the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption code. He took “full responsibility” for his actions but said he was never involved in any attempts to fix matches.

Streak, who was diagnosed with colon and liver cancer, saw his condition deteriorate in May, prompting his family to hospitalise him immediately.

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TOWNSVILLE: Zimbabwe stunned a nearly full-strength Australia by three wickets on Saturday to claim a historic victory in the third one-day international in Townsville. 

After leg-spinner Ryan Burl (5-10) played a starring role in dismissing the hosts for a lowly 141, Zimbabwe overcame a wobbly chase to beat the cricket powerhouse for the first time in Australia when they hauled in the target in the 39th over, triggering scenes of celebration.

It was a consolation victory for Zimbabwe to conclude the three-match series.

“We showed a whole lot of fight… it was a testament to the work the boys put in,” said Zimbabwe skipper Regis Chakabva, who top-scored with a composed 37 not out.

The tourists started the chase impressively, with Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Tadiwanashe Marumani posting a 38-run opening stand.

But Australia quick Josh Hazlewood turned the game on its head with the wicket of Kaitano (19) in the ninth over, and soon after dismissed Wessly Madhevere and Sean Williams on consecutive deliveries.

A nervous Zimbabwe, seeking just their third victory against Australia from 32 ODIs, batted defensively and slumped to 77-5 after Murumani (35) fell to towering all-rounder Cameron Green.

Chakabva calmed the nerves and was joined by an inspired Burl, who hit a six off player-of-the-series Adam Zampa to get Zimbabwe within sight of a famous victory.

He fell with five runs needed but there was no late twist.

“You turn up to international sport and you can get beaten on any day, and we saw that today,” said Australia captain Aaron Finch.

“They were relentless with the ball early on.”

In their first series in Australia since 2004, Zimbabwe struggled to be competitive in the opening two matches at the same venue and were routed for just 96 on Wednesday.

In a confidence boost, Chakabva won the toss for the first time in the series and his accurate attack claimed regular wickets against Australia’s misfiring batting order.

Only two batters reached double figures, with star opener David Warner (94) playing a lone hand in Australia’s innings lasting just 31 overs.

After Zimbabwe’s probing seamers tore through Australia’s top-order, an inspired Burl claimed five wickets in a whirlwind 18 balls starting with the key scalp of Glenn Maxwell, who helped rebuild the innings with a half-century partnership alongside Warner.

The dangerous Maxwell holed out for 19 in the 27th over and Burl got on a roll in his career-best performance, including dismissing Warner, who fell just short of his 19th ODI century.

Zimbabwe bowled out Australia for the first time in ODIs and the eventual triumph fuelled their bid to climb the ODI Super League ladder, which goes towards qualification for next year’s 50-over World Cup in India.

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