Ireland have had a fruitful ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 campaign so far. Living up to their reputation of winning at least one big game, they did that against West Indies, and as expected, pulled off 21-run against UAE. However, their previous match against South Africa, where they suffered a 201-run loss, proved that lack of pace in their bowling attack remains a concern. Once South Africa scored above 400, and Ireland lost three wickets for some 20-odd runs, the outcome was a foregone conclusion despite their knack of chasing down big total.With the bottom-half of Pool B setting up nicely, the Irish are still in with a chance of qualifying to the knock-outs. They already have two wins and a game extra in hand, as compared to Zimbabwe, who they face at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Saturday.Zimbabwe haven't played Ireland in four years and with just one win in four matches, their chances of making the quarter finals are very slim. A win for them might not make a big difference, but since Ireland are due to face Pakistan and India, the equation might come down to their last league game. Captaining them this time around will be Brendan Taylor, since Elton Chigumbura suffered a third grade quadriceps tear on Sunday, and is set to be out for a bit. The last time these two teams faced each other in a World Cup - at Jamaica in 2007 - the match ended in a thrilling tie.
Ireland vs Zimbabwe, 30th Match, Pool B - Live Cricket Score, Commentary
It is a crucial game for Ireland. Having lost to South Africa by a heavy margin in Canberra, they must win against Zimbabwe in Hobart in order to keep their quarter-final hopes alive. On the other hand, Zimbabwe will be looking to spoil Ireland's party. Ireland are placed in fifth position while Zimbabwe are in sixth place.
William Porterfield says, "Every game is a must-win game. If we can get that win today, makes it three from four, and that's what we're after." Brendan Taylor said, "Too many starts, hopefully, one of the top four can go on and get a big one. We've been excellent for 80 per cent in our games, but the other 20 per cent has cost us."
Playing XIs
Zimbabwe: Chamu Chibhabha, Sikandar Raza, Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor (c and wk), Regis Chakabva, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine, Solomon MIre, Tawanda Mupariwa, Tinashe Panyangara, Tendai Chatara
Ireland: William Porterfield (c), Paul Stirling, Ed Joyce, Niall O'Brien, Andrew Balbirnie, Gary Wilson (wk), Kevin O'Brien, John Mooney, George Dockrell, Max Sorensen, Andy McBrine
Tinashe Panyangara opens the bowling but strays in his line and length. Paul Stirling gets going with two boundaries as Ireland make a confident start. In the first over, Ireland are 9/0.
In the quest for aggression, Paul Stirling throws his wicket away. He looks to slash a short and wide ball on the up over point but does not control it and Sean Williams at point leaps to take the catch. Ireland are 16/1 in the third over.
Paul Stirling c Sean Williams b Tinashe Panyangara 10(10)
Tinashe Panyangara bowled a wonderful line and length and he forced Ed Joyce to edge a delivery just around the off stump to first slip. Hamilton Masakadza moved to his left and apparently took the catch but there were some doubts whether the catch was taken cleanly. Replays showed that the ball had bounced just in front and Joyce survives.
Following the early loss of Paul Stirling, William Porterfield and Ed Joyce made steady progress on a sluggish pitch. In 12 overs, only five boundaries have been hit. Zimbabwe's bowlers have maintained their discipline.
Zimbabwe's bowlers continued to bowl with discipline as they dried up the flow of runs. This prompted one Zimbabwe fan to tweet about Zimbabwe's improved showing with the ball. Special praise came for Tawanda Mupariwa who has figures of 4-0-14-0. However, Joyce and Porterfield continued to score at an attritional rate as they notched up the 50-run partnership. Ireland are 70/1 after 18 overs as players take a drinks break in Hobart.
Brendan Taylor has led from the front and has given Zimbabwe a great chance in this game. The Zimbabwe skipper scored his seventh ODI ton and in company with Sean Williams, has stitched together a 100-run partnership. Ireland are struggling to break this partnership.
Sean Williams continued his fine form in this tournament by smashing his third World Cup fifty, his 20th overall. Taylor, at the other end, is looking ominous as he slams 18 runs in George Dockrell's last over. The partnership is now worth 149.
Ireland will finally breathe a huge sigh of relief. Taylor, who was looking in great touch, looks to go inside-out over cover but he is deceived by the change of pace. The bat turns in his hand as he tamely lobs a catch to Kevin O'Brien at mid-on. The knock included 11 fours and four sixes. The 149-run partnership between Taylor and Williams is the best fifth-wicket stand partnership for Zimbabwe in the World Cup.
Brendan Taylor c Kevin O'Brien b Alex Cusack 121 (91)
Despite the loss of Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams kept Zimbabwe in the hunt with some lusty blows. He smashes a six off Kevin O'Brien and a four off Cusack as Zimbabwe score 41/1 in the batting Powerplay. This match promises to be a close one.
Sean Williams was running out of partners as Zimbabwe kept losing wickets at the end. In the quest for quick runs, Craig Ervine reverse-sweeps Andy McBrine straight to short third man where Niall O'Brien takes the catch.
There was controversy at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart involving Sean Williams. With the match evenly poised, Williams swung Kevin O'Brien to deep midwiccket where John Mooney judged the catch to perfection. However, there was some controversy whether the catch was taken. Numerous replays proved to be inconclusive and Williams was declared out on 96. Tinashe Panyangara departed in the next over as Ireland continued to stay in the game.
Sean Williams c John Mooney b Kevin O'Brien 96 (83)
Tinashe Panyangara c William Porterfield b John Mooney 5 (5)
Ireland apparently were closing in on the win but Tawanda Mupariwa changed the entire complexion of the game. Batting with utter disdain, he smashed Kevin O'Brien for two fours and a six as 19 runs were conceded in penultimate over. Seven runs needed off six balls.
Cusack the man for Ireland. He bowls a full and slow off-cutter outside off and Regis Chakabva looks to slog it over the leg side but he drags it back onto the stumps. Seven runs needed off five balls with one wicket remaining.
Regis Chakabva b Alex Cusack 17 (16)
Alex Cusack will be the toast of Ireland today. He sent back Regis Chakabva in the first ball of the final over while Tawanda Mupariwa could not hold his nerve and he departed for 18 to give Ireland a thrilling five-run win over Zimbabwe in Hobart.
Zimbabwe got off to a poor start when they lost four quick wickets in pursuit of 332. However, a 149-run stand between Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams, a record fifth-wicket stand for Zimbabwe in World Cups, got Zimbabwe back on track and both batsmen batted with tremendous confidence. Taylor went past 5000 runs and scored his seventh ODI century. Williams continued his fine run by smashing his third fifty in this edition of the tournament. Taylor's departure for a fabulous 121 did not stop Williams from playing freely and the game was evenly poised.
However, there was a moment in the match which will be the talking point for many days to come. In the 47th over, Williams slogged Kevin O'Brien to deep midwicket and John Mooney took the catch just inside the ropes. However, there was plenty of doubts as to whether Mooney's foot was not in contact with the boundary rope. There were numerous replays and they proved to be inconclusive. To add more confusion, Williams had apparently left the ground and thus the original decision was out.
Tawanda Mupariwa smashed two boundaries and a six in the 49th over and Zimbabwe needed seven runs off six balls. However, Cusack returned and snapped up the wickets of Regis Chakabva (17) and Mupariwa for 18 to seal a thrilling five-run victory for Ireland. With this win, Ireland are on six points and have kept their chances of qualifying for the World Cup in tact. It is now a straight shoot-out between West Indies, Pakistan and Ireland for the third and fourth spot.
This match was indeed gut-wrenching.
There will be plenty of debate about John Mooney's catch off Sean Williams but it does not change the fact that both teams have put in a spirited performance. Zimbabwe will aim to end the tournament on a high when they take on India while Ireland have two crucial games against India and Pakistan in the coming week. Tomorrow, New Zealand take on Afghanistan in Napier while the second match is a big one, with Australia taking on Sri Lanka in Sydney. Until then, see you.
Brendan Taylor said after the match, "It's pretty frustrating to be in a winning situation again, and throw it away a little bit. Ireland were a little bit more hungry, they deserved to win."
William Porterfield said, " It was hard to defend with the bowlers and the small outfield. It is hard to say, I thought it was a great catch (when asked about the John Mooney catch".