ZIM VS IRE T20I

That's your lot for this match. Ireland have stamped their authority after a blip in the first game and taken an unsurpassable lead in the series. There is still one game left, so do tune in for the final T20I on Saturday, 4th September 2021 at 3 pm local (2 pm GMT). You can join us in advance for the build-up. Cheers!

The victorious skipper of Ireland, Andy Balbirnie is up for a chat. He is very happy with this win especially after losing the toss. Adds that they were not sure of what would be a good total but they were happy with 174. Tells that they do not play this format regularly and Andy feels that they need at least 6-7 match-winners going into the T20 World Cup. Says that they want a squad of 15 players who can win games on their day for Ireland. Signs off by saying that they have won this series but with the ODIs coming, they want to build some momentum.

Craig Ervine, the skipper of Zimbabwe, expresses his disappointment and tells that they just never got going in the chase. Feels that it is becoming an issue for them and they need to sort it out going forward. Admits that the stand between Paul Stirling and Kevin O'Brien put them on the back foot. Adds that a couple of wickets in the middle overs allowed them to make a comeback as at one stage it appeared that Ireland will get a score around 180-190. Praises Wellington Masakadza for his bowling who has become a consistent performer for them. Mentions that every game is important and although the series is gone, the last match offers them the opportunity to try out different combinations.

Mark Adair gets the Man of the Match award! The speedster says that it was nice to come back and make an impact straightaway. Shares that they sat down as a bowling unit after the first game with the coach and they thought of some different plans. Says that they had a pretty good series against South Africa and it's good to win this one against Zimbabwe. Signs off by saying that the plan is to win this series 4-1.

Presentation time...

The chase was put to bed inside the Powerplay. It was a very flavourless show from Zimbabwe, both with the bat and ball. There wasn't enough planning and execution from them and that was very disappointing to see from a team which showed a lot of fight in the series opener. Full marks to Ireland for the way they have bounced back after a morale-deflating loss in the first T20I. Their batting and bowling have started to click together and are complementing each other superbly.

A clinical performance from Ireland and they have taken an unassailable 3-1 lead in the 5-match T20I series. Their batting was right on the money with Paul Stirling, Kevin O'Brien and Andy Balbirnie doing the maximum damage. After posting 174 on the board, the Irishmen had the upper hand and their bowlers turned up in full force to make Zimbabwe surrender. Three blows from Mark Adair at the start was enough to take the wind out of Zimbabwe's sails and from there on, the chase was just meandering towards a one-sided victory for Ireland.

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!

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.

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.

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

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

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.

Craig Young (3-0-13-1) will bowl the last over of the innings.

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

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

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

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